TheVanishing by Tomislav Zajec portrays a seemingly harmonious modern family. This illusion of domestic bliss begins to crack as dark events from the past start to surface. Karlo is a seemingly exemplary scientist and a devoted husband and father. Nonetheless, his actual predatory nature gradually comes to light through Marko, a young man with a hearing impairment. Marko’s inner torment, stemming from a childhood trauma he never verbalised, leads him into a slow process of vanishing. Silence, indifference, and the evasion of responsibility are just some of the elements of this harrowing play, which addresses the sexual abuse of the most vulnerable.
Zajec masterfully interlaces plotlines and relationships, gradually building dramatic tension as the truth surrounding the boy's abuse comes to light. The author alternates dialogues and monologues in temporal discontinuity, creating an unusual dramatic structure that unfolds like a crime story before the audience.
The Vanishing, written by Tomislav Zajec and directed by Dora Ruždjak Podolski, was awarded the Award for Contemporary Playwriting at the 35th Marulić Days Festival of Croatian Drama.
Marin Klišmanić received the “Mila Dimitrijević” Award for his role as Marko in the 2023/2024 season.
