Inauguration of the 4th Bembo Fest
True celebration of theatrical art was the opening of this year's 4th Bembo Fest - Festival of Small Forms of Independent Theaters in the Tomaso Bembo Square in Bale.
Already on the first festival evening, featuring Miro Gavran's play "Sladoled" directed by Boris Svrtan and produced by Teatar Gavran from Zagreb, with top actresses Ana Vilenica and Mladen Gavran, once again confirmed that Bembo Fest, running until September 5 this year, has its faithful audience.
Before "Sladoled" and the ice cream served to the audience by the organizers, welcoming words were addressed to visitors and guests of the Festival - organized by Teatar Fort Forno, Bale Municipality, and Bale Tourist Board, under the patronage of Mon Perin d.d., with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Istria County, and the Italian Cultural Institute - by Prof. Dr. Art Robert Raponja, founder and artistic director of Teatar Fort Forno, and Bale Municipality Mayor Edi Pastrovicchio. Greetings were also extended by Vladimir Torbica, Head of Culture and Heritage of Istria County. The ceremony was hosted by Jasminka Mesarić, director of Teatar Fort Forno, who announced that Bembo Fest, its contributing to Bale as an open place for creative and cultural dialogue, this year presents 17 performances. With free entrance, performances take place on Thursdays (except August 1, Last Minute Open Jazz Festival), and starting July 10. There are also children plays as part of Mali Bembo on Wednesdays at 9 pm, on the magical festival stage in the main square of Bale.
"We are pleased that this year's Bembo Fest program unites most independent theaters in Croatia, which, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, present their interesting and important performances. The independent scene is agile, intriguing, innovative, authentic, vibrant, and diverse because it must find its way to the audience, and that is precisely why it is characterized by power, attention, and enthusiasm. Independent theaters produce 'small' plays that are grand in their artistic achievements and capture the audience's attention. Our new addition this year - Mali Bembo, featuring seven children's performances presented from July 10 to September 4, also serves an educational role. Our goal is for Bale, its residents, and guests, our festival audience, to see, love, and live theater. This year, in peace and tranquility, which can only be found here in Bale, together we will witness authentic performances by independent theaters, and from one performance to another, we will explore how joy, seriousness, and laughter intertwine and enrich our perception of the world. I am looking forward to enjoying outstanding performances together, presented by the masters and mistresses of acting whose play will inspire and enrich us," said Robert Raponja.
"It all began with a conversation among a few enthusiasts just over four years ago, and today we have reached the 4th Bembo Fest, a festival that grows year by year and proves how important culture is," said Mayor Pastrovicchio in his welcoming remarks. He thanked the entire Bembo Fest team for enriching Bale's culture with their program and highlighted that Bale itself, due to its beauty and architecture, is an ideal setting for such a theatrical event.
"Istria has several theater festivals - Golden Lion in Umag, Golden Tooth in Poreč, and there is also the Istrian National Theater in Pula. However, the fact remains that Bale has made a significant leap forward by producing its own theater season, and for that, I congratulate Mayor Edi Pastrovicchio and the conceptual creator Robert Raponja. I am glad that this year's Bembo Fest program will bring much-needed laughter, which is essential for all of us" said Vladimir Torbica, Head of Culture and Heritage of Istria County."
