17th GavranFest Officially Opened in Munich

The 17th GavranFest, an international theatre festival dedicated to the works of Miro Gavran, Croatia’s most translated and most frequently performed playwright, was officially opened on November 12 at the renowned Teamtheater in Munich.

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The festival is organized by the umbrella association Croatian House Munich (Trägerverein Kroatisches Haus e. V.). The opening ceremony was hosted on behalf of the organizers by the association’s president, Dr. Neda Caktaš, who, together with vice-president Dragan Čotić, is responsible for organizing and producing this year’s edition of the festival.

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In her opening address, she warmly welcomed theatre enthusiasts and numerous distinguished guests, including representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps, cultural and religious institutions, and Miro Gavran himself. She emphasized the importance of such events in preserving Croatian cultural and national identity and promoting Croatian culture beyond the country’s borders.

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The audience was then addressed by Vladimir Duvnjak, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Munich, who highlighted the importance of the rich and continuous activities of Croatian House Munich and its contribution to preserving Croatian cultural identity, bringing the Croatian community together, and promoting Croatian culture in Germany. He particularly emphasized the significance of Miro Gavran’s literary and theatrical work, whose international recognition and success contribute to the promotion of Croatian culture abroad.

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Speaking on behalf of Munich’s Mayor Dominik Krause and Third Mayor Verena Dietl, city councillor Barbara Likus emphasized the importance of building and strengthening cultural bridges between Croatia and Germany, as well as between Zagreb and Munich. She highlighted the role of cultural cooperation in bringing the two nations and cities closer together. In this context, she particularly mentioned Miro Gavran as a distinguished Croatian and internationally acclaimed writer whose works, through their universal themes and international presence on theatre stages, connect audiences across different languages and cultures.

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Following the official addresses, the audience was greeted by Miro Gavran, the writer whose work is celebrated by the festival, and Tihomir Glowatzky, his long-time translator into German.

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The ceremonial programme was further enriched by a musical performance by Klapa Croatia, whose songs added to the festive atmosphere of the opening evening.

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The opening ceremony was also attended by Dragan Bagarić, Consul General of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Munich; Marina Perković, representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the Federal Republic of Germany, attending on behalf of Ambassador Gordan Bakota; Sonja Lovrek Velkov and Ines Mazor, Consul Counsellors at the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Munich; Antje Herbst, Head of the Office of Munich’s Third Mayor Verena Dietl; Dr. Sabine Busch-Frank, Head of Theatre Affairs at the City of Munich’s Department of Arts and Culture; and Friar Frano Čugura, parish priest of the Croatian Catholic Parish in Munich, along with numerous other distinguished guests from cultural, political, and social circles.

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The opening ceremony was followed by a performance of “The Doll” (“Die Puppe”), produced by the acclaimed Hoftheater from Dresden, directed by Olaf Hais, and starring Hannah Jaitner and Holger Uwe Thews. This warm and witty story about relationships between men and women delighted the audience.

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GavranFest continues with a rich theatrical programme, offering audiences in the Bavarian capital the opportunity to enjoy four more productions based on Miro Gavran’s works until Sunday, November 15.