One of the greatest masterpieces of world literature, Fjodor M. Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, is why the twentieth century in the Russian theatrical context is often called “Dostoevsky’s Theatre”. This monumental Russian novel has inspired countless productions that delve into the psychological breakdown and ideological struggles of Rodion Raskolnikov, a former student and the figure behind literature’s most iconic crime, whose inner turmoil mirrors the social context of St Petersburg. This adaptation, crafted by Dino Pešut, the ensemble and director Jernej Lorenci, presents a contemplative staging where the collective reading of the original text overbridges the boundary between the stage and the audience, to allow for a rare and intimate theatrical experience. By emphasising Dostoevsky’s philosophical insights and the production’s sound background, Lorenci’s production focuses on the reconstruction of the novel’s narrative fabric, the perpetuation of crime and a sense of punishment—one that is not found in Siberia, Katorga, or prison instead in how the highly sensitive Raskolnikov experiences his inner world and the surrounding reality.
The cast of the production Crime and Punishment received the “Mila Dimitrijević” Award in the 2024/2025 season.
