Our Violence and Your Violence

Slovenian première 13 October 2016, Mladinsko Theatre
Running time approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. No interval.

Director Oliver Frljić
Dramaturg Marin Blažević
Set designer Igor Pauška
Costume and makeup designer Sandra Dekanić
Lighting designer Dalibor Fugošić
Lighting adaptation David Cvelbar
Sound designer Silvo Zupančič
Music selection Oliver Frljić
Consultant Aenne Quiñones
Assistant director Barbara Babačić
Production manager Hannes Frey

Cast
Barbara Babačić Barbara Babačić as guest
Rasha Omran Daša Doberšek
Mathijs Uroš Kaurin
Abi Aziz Dean Krivačić
Mihailo Tamar Jerko Marčić as guest
Noor Nazari Nika Mišković as guest
Amal Petrovič Draga Potočnjak
Hadi Al-Zaidi Matej Recer
Rauf Asgarov Blaž Šef

The production of Our Violence and Your Violence observes Europe as it istaken by surprise with the refugee crisis – how naïve of it; a Europe that is instantly oblivious about its colonial past while it closes its borders to the thousands running away from the consequences of European and American politics. As if the twentieth century stubbornly did only one thing – incited national narcisissms that taught one mass that it was better than the other mass, while purposefully forgetting that exclusion is a form of violence per se. The twenty-first century keeps on teaching us the same lessons, only this time using an unmistakeable weapon: fear. Fear is certainly the most reliable prerequisite for hatred. That is why Our Violence and Your Violence poses some highly unpleasant questions: Are we aware that our well-being is dependent on the thousands of dead in the Middle East? Do we mourn the victims of terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels in the same way as we mourn the victims of the attacks in Baghdad and Kabul? When was the exact moment in which we started believing that we were the masters of truth and that our God was mightier than those of others?

The manner of narration and the theatrical devices used by the director to achieve the effects are extremely two-folded. The superficial reception along with the feedback abroad quickly produced resistance, abhorrence and a self-defensive attitude [...].On the other hand, viewing, listening and experiencing the atmospheric undulations in the production in more detail reveal a great work of art. From one scene to another, the director seduces the spectator with a great deal of sophistication weaving almost tangible threads, leaving one breathless, confused, angered, saddened, and at the same time, infused by his mastery.

Petra Tanko, Radio Slovenia, 14 October 2016