Ivor Martinić's drama "It would be a shame if the plants died", performed by the Argentine theatre Apacheta Sala/Estudio, will be staged at the Split City Puppet Theatre starting at 6 p.m. The play revolves around the breakup of a long-term romantic relationship. When one person in the couple fails to remember the most significant event in the relationship for the other, a crisis ensues, activating a series of existential questions and doubts. Through numerous encounters, the now former couple tries to uncover shared truths to move forward.
Ivor Martinić is one of Croatia's most successful and performed playwrights, with his plays having been staged and awarded multiple times at the Marulić Days. Among the most performed and translated Croatian playwrights abroad, his works have been successfully performed in Argentina as well, where "It Would Be a Shame If the Plants Die" was directed by the esteemed Argentine director Guillermo Cacace at Apacheta Sala/Estudio. The roles of the romantic couple are portrayed by Argentine actors Denisse Van Der Ploeg and Esteban Kukuriczka, alongside Fernando Contigiani Garcia and Romina Padoan. Kukuriczka and Contigiani Garcia gained significant popularity in Argentina for their roles in the film "Snow Brotherhood," which was nominated for two Oscars this year. The play has been translated into Spanish by Nikolina Židek, and the performance will be subtitled in Croatian.
"Partings," the dramatized novel by Mani Gotovac, is presented by the Ivan pl. Zajc Croatian National Theatre from Rijeka and will be performed at the Split National Theatre starting at 8 p.m. Director Anastasija Jankovska helms the production, with Elvis Bošnjak handling the dramatization of the story about lifelong love, passion, and partings by Mani Gotovac. Gotovac dedicated her ninth book, a story about lifelong love, passion, and partings, to her second husband Željko Senečić, a painter, set designer, writer, and director. Although the author often emphasized that it was fiction and only some names were taken from reality, many saw in the characters Luz and Luv a reflection of her and Seneka and their story. Tanja Smoje stars as Luz, with Janko Popović Volarić portraying Luv. The supporting cast includes Jelena Lopatić, Damir Orlić, Leonora Surian Popov, Denis Brižić, Romina Tonković, Deni Sanković, Jasmin Mekić, Anamarija Brđanović, Mario Jovev, and Ivna Bruck. Alongside Jankovska and Bošnjak, the creative team of the play includes set and costume designer Marita Ćopo, choreographer Pravdan Devlahović, composer Grisha Levchenko, lighting designer Dalibor Fugošić, and video projection designer Martin Šatović.
As part of the accompanying program, the 26th edition of the youth poetry gathering "Ča, more, judi" will take place in Nečujam on the island of Šolta, literary meetings and workshops for elementary schools will be held, the festival of children's writers "Zvonjava" will take place at the central branch of the Marko Marulić City Library starting at 8 a.m., a free educational tour of Split's historical center with expert guidance "My Brother Marko" (departure at 11 a.m. from Voćni trg), and in the foyer of the Split National Theatre, the novel "Gajandra" by Srećko Jurišić will be presented, starting at 6 p.m.