Until Silence Reigns

In the pre-Covid era, it seemed the issues of ecology were on the pulse of the day. They were of everyone’s interest, particularly of the youth. In environmental responsibility they found their generational theme, space for their statement, sheet music for their protest song. Then then the pandemic struck. It out shadowed many topics and silenced many voices. The extraordinary project by the author and dramaturge Slavka Civáňová, stage director Iveta Ditte Jurčová and the artistic group of the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra talks about the necessity to protect the fragile nature and the environment. The project combines art and learning. The artistic part comprises interactive audio and video installations, performative interventions three actors. Drawing from documentary material (public protests against unauthorised logging in the valleys Tichá and Kôprová in 2007), present a contemporary view of human attitude to the landscape and on the state of Slovak forests.

The vantage point of the production was the text Pictures from the Mountains by playwright Slavka Civáňová, written for GREEN DRAMA. The project is a collection of plays published by the Theatre Institute in Bratislava. Authors have written stage texts touching upon environmentalism and ecological topics. The production shows how logging has spread, its effect on the ecosystem, and why it is imperative to take care of forests and approach them with all due respect and humility.

It is difficult to imagine a more fitting person to direct this educational play than Iveta Ditte Jurčová. In her art, she has long been addressing current issues. Moreover, as stage director she has an apt sense for stage images and visually captivating metaphors. Until Silence Reigns is an uncommon educational production. The director uses the principles of visual and sound installation, which she connects with documentary material. Images from the devastating calamity that hit the High Tatras in 2004, photo images from environmental protests or a moving lorry loaded with wood are projected on the screen and allow actors to play impressive mise-en-scenes. (…) Iveta Ditta Jurčová’s directing shows not only her interest in the issue, which is reflected in her work with documentary material, but also her artistic, or a metaphorical method of addressing environmental themes.

Miroslava Košťálová: Trees in the Lead Role [V hlavnej úlohe stromy]. [online]. 31. 5. 2021. Available at: https://monitoringdivadiel.sk/v-hlavnej-ulohe-stromy/

Iveta Ditte Jurčová (1968) graduated in stage directing (2006) at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. She is the stage and artistic director at the Pôtoň Theatre, which she has been running since 2008 in Bátovce, in the former cultural centre – now the Centre for Art and Creativity. Iveta Ditte Jurčová, together with the dramaturge Michal Ditte, made the Pôtoň Theatre into one of the key independent theatres in Slovakia. Together they staged a number of critical and award-winning productions: Two Words of Bellisa Twilight … The Story of Eva Luna (2004), Terra Granus (2007), Bride of the Ridge (2009), Misery (2011), American Emperor (2018), Terra Apathy (2022). As stage director, she also collaborated with a range of Slovak and Czech theatres (e.g. Puppet Theatre Žilina, Slovak Chamber Theatre in Martin, Slovak National Theatre, Municipal Theatre Zlín, Silesian Theatre Opava). She is the author and lecturer of numerous learning projects in performing arts. As stage director she regularly collaborates with the Slovak Radio.

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