La Celestina by Fernando de Rojas, directed by Milan Nešković is currently in rehearsal at Yugoslav Drama Theatre. The première of this production, co-produced by Yugoslav Drama Theatre and Theatre City Budva, is scheduled for 18 th July (with further performances in Budva scheduled for 19 th , 20 th and 21 st July in Budva). The Belgrade première will take place early in 2019/2020 season on the Ljuba Tadić stage after which it will become a regular item on YDT repertoire.
The novel La Celestina is written entirely in dialogue form and is considered one of the greatest works of Spanish literature. Although it was first published towards the end of 15 th century, this novel is similar to all the great classical novels in as much as it tackles many modern and timeless topics. It takes place in a world where money is the supreme deity, a world full of false morals, self interest, a world without love or empathy. The embodiment of such a world is its heroine Celestina, an ageing, cunning madame who knows exactly what sort of world she lives in and makes do the best she can. She helps the young and unscrupulous nobleman Calisto to win Melibea, a girl from a wealthy noble family with whom he has allegedly fallen in love. What on the surface seems a harmless and comical role- play slowly turns into a tragedy where no one is left unscathed.
With Nataša Ninković in the title role, the rest of the cast includes: Nikola Rakoćević, Marta Bjelica, Nikola Šurbanović, Emir Ćatović, Ljubomir Bandović, Anđelika Simić, Katarina Žutić and Maja Stojanović. Adaptation and dramaturgy by Maja Todorović. Set design by Jasmina Holbus, costume design by Bilјana Grgur, choreography by Ista Stepanov with music composed by Vladimir Pejković.