The book deals with the period between 1961 and 1969, when the Drama of the Slovenian National Theatre of Ljubljana was led by Bojan Štih. In order to understand the situation in the theatre and society, the author briefly touches on the period before Štih's appearance. The drama was experiencing severe criticism at that time because it was firmly based on the values of its past, the so-called period of Europeanization. On the one hand, it was under attack from younger critics who demanded its actualization, and on the other hand, it was under the watchful eye of the official ideology, which kept it on this side of acceptable boundaries. This was an obstacle that prevented it from surrendering to more modern trends, neither in terms of repertoire nor in terms of performance. Dissatisfaction was also growing in the ensemble. An attempt to save the drama from the situation by appointing Lojze Filipič as dramaturge was not entirely successful. Therefore, it was high time for a strong personality to enter the Drama, one who would be able to find a balance between external (political) pressures and internal misunderstandings, between the wishes of the actors and the needs of a modern repertory theatre of national importance.
Poldet Bibič's book attempts to prove, with the help of credible scientific sources, documents and literature (D. Pirjevec, A. Gabrič, I. Omerza), that the appointment of Bojan Štih to the position of director of the Drama was the result of a struggle for political (social) influence between the liberal and conservative currents of the then government. Since the "liberal" current brought Štih to the central theatre, the "conservatives" led by Josip Vidmar began a simultaneous struggle against Štih - Vidmar had at that time become a theatre critic for the central newspaper Slovenski poročevalec, and he was following the stage production of the Drama SNG. Despite the fact that Štih enjoyed the support of some liberal politicians (B. Kraigher, S. Kavčič), his leadership of the Drama aroused constant controversy, as Štih understood the central Slovenian theatre as a space that must also be open to contemporary theatre tendencies.
Poldet Bibič's book thus speaks of one of the fundamental architects of the future of Slovenian theatre. Before us is a kind of chronicle of the successes and failures of Štih's period in Drama, of confronting performances with the audience and critics, of tours in Yugoslavia, Poland and the Czech Republic, Milan and Rome, Switzerland and Hungary, of conflicting views on theatre, of efforts to have the theatre medium exchange its subordination to literature for the status of an autonomous art, despite the "traditionalists" and their opposition to such tendencies. When the acting champion Stane Sever resisted Štih's favoritism of director Mile Korun, the aforementioned dispute reached its peak and escalated, ultimately leading to Štih's resignation. Bibič considers both Sever's mistake and Štih's mistakes, which led to the crisis of the Ljubljana Drama. This culminated in the departure of three directors (F. Jamnik, M. Korun, Ž. Petan) from the Drama. Sever's sudden death followed. The book attempts to show, with the help of some party documents, that the crisis of the Ljubljana Drama was actually the beginning of a showdown with the "liberals" (i.e. with Stane Kavčič), which was concluded within the national framework by the "road affair". The period under discussion in Drama ends with Štih's bitter disappointment, which is only partially alleviated by Štih's subsequent leadership of the SLG Celje and the Drama of the SNG Maribor. In his place in Drama, the conservative line of the party put "its own man", Janez Šenek.
To some extent, the book also resonates with controversy and could arouse disagreement in many ways. Opinions about the turbulent and very important time for Slovenian theatre still differ today, and it seems that a completely objective judgment about it is elusive. Regardless, Polde Bibič's very personal and convincing writing confirms its interest for both the general and narrow professional public.
Ivo Svetina
The book was edited by: Francka Slivnik and Ivo Svetina
Accompanying word: Borut Trekman
Language review: John Kaiser
Photo: Dragan Arrigler, Leon Dolinsek, Vlastja Simoncic, Dusan Skedl
Design and Break: Matjaž Vipotnik