They have already gone
“They have already gone” is based on extensive research into enforced disappearances during the wars in the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the period from 1991 til 2001, with special attention to the killed and disappeared during the genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995. The Republic of Serbia still does not officially recognize responsibility for the genocide, and the Serbian public mainly denies the facts established by the court.
“We can at least tell the truth and pay our respect to the victims, we can remain silent in front of those who are no longer there, if we are not already able to ensure justice and human dignity for those who survived. The performance is created for those who come to talk about those who are no longer there. And that’s the minimum.”
In that polarized atmosphere, director Andrej Nosov, together with collaborators, examines the presence and memory of those who are no longer there, but especially investigates the role of the audience, that is, citizens in relation to the responsibility for building a culture of memory. This performative event activates the memories of the audience, uses solitude and group dynamics, but also opens space for action by the audience itself. A particularly important role is played by the set design of Zorana Petrov. During the performance, part of Doruntina Basha’s text is used, as well as sounds, documentary material, objects and other contents that could have been left behind by those who are no longer there.
Director: Andrej Nosov
Voices: Mirjana Karanovic, Svetozar Cvetkovic, Tara Manic and others
Set design: Zorana Petrov
Sound design: Nikola Eric, Luka Cvetko
Light design Nemanja Calic
Translation in Serbian: Shkelzen Maliqi
Translation in English: Alexandra Channer
Associates in the research phase: Aleksa Krstic, Tara Manic
Before entering the performance space:
Good evening.
Tonight, you have the opportunity to step into the process of the creating of a theatrical production. Don’t worry, we won’t be focusing on theatre itself, or even on us.
This evening, we have opened the doors to our creative process and the making of a play that aims to artistically explore the questions of responsibility, empathy, and memory in relation to those who are no longer with us – those who perished in the wars in the former Yugoslavia, especially Srebrenica during July 1995.
We have carefully selected five scenes. Each og these scenes was created from documentary material, including Nemanja Stjepanovic’s film “Kolutovi dima” (“Rings of Smoke”) and recordings of the interpretation of Doruntina Basha’s play “They Have Already Gone.” In this material, you will hear actors Mirijana Karanovic and Svetozar Cvetkovic, as well as director Tara Manic, and Kada Hotic, a woman from Srebrenica who has been fighting for years to uncover the truth about the genocide in Potocari.
You will meet Sadika, her husband Azem, and some members og their family. They are fictional characters. They are dramatic figures.
These five scenes are intuitively connected, without a structure that aims to explain anything specific. This is not a lesson – it is simply a space for personal reflection.
We invite you to make yourselves comfortable in the chairs around our table. Feel free to adjust the space to suit you.
Close your eyes for a moment and try to recall your happiest birthday.
Now open your eyes.
What lies before you are the remnants of the happiest birthday of our main character – of what should have been the happiest birthday for our main character. This is Sadika.
What surrounds you now, what you see, are the remains of a life. These are just some objects, some images, and a situation that could exist in an apartment where a happy and unique family once lived. Because every family is unique – or at least believes so. Sadika’s family was no different.
