CNT in Zagreb Continues Its Series of International Guest Performances: Krleža’s “The Flags” for a New Generation Delighted the Audience at the National Theatre in BudapestDrama — 28. September 2026.
A provocative interpretation of Krleža’s novel, led by Drama principals of the CNT in Zagreb, was performed on 26 September at the National Theatre in Budapest (Nemzeti Színház), with the participation of artists from the CNT Ballet and musicians.
The Flags, which premiered on 3 October 2025 at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, brings Krleža’s monumental novel closer to a new generation of spectators. Planinić’s direction does not treat The Flags as a revered literary classic that should not be reinterpreted, but as a living, contemporary and polemical work. Its provocative quality lies precisely in the way it questions inherited ideologies, national myths and political divisions, confronting them with questions that remain relevant today: how can we preserve our identity, freedom and personal integrity in times of profound social upheaval?
The story of a generation growing up and coming of age amid the turbulent circumstances of the first half of the 20th century thus becomes a distinctly contemporary story about young people, their ideals, disappointments, loves and friendships, and the individual’s relationship with the history and society that shape them.
The production is led by National Drama Principals Livio Badurina, Nina Violić and Goran Grgić, while the cast includes Drama principals Jadranka Đokić and Živko Anočić together with actor Marin Klišmanić. The participation of CNT Ballet artists Ovidiu Muscalu, Dan Rus and Darija Brdovnik contributes with an added dimension to the performance, with their dance sequences expanding the production’s dramatic language and translating Krleža’s world into a powerful combination of acting, movement and music. The live music is performed by Lucija Stanojević on violin, Božan Bejo on clarinet, and Helena Novosel as vocalist.
The guest performance in Budapest confirmed that The Flags, although deeply rooted in the Croatian historical and cultural context, also strongly resonates with international audiences. The universal themes of identity, ideology, love, friendship and the individual’s responsibility to the time in which they live once again opened up a space for dialogue between the Croatian and Hungarian theatre scenes.
The guest performance by the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb was made possible with the support of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Media, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Budapest.
