The HNK2EU European Theatre Cycle Continues in Zagreb: Tomi Janežič’s Multiple Award-Winning Production "1973" Presented at HNK2Drama — 05. November 2026.
The Slovenian National Theatre Nova Gorica presented Zagreb audiences with a work of documentary fiction that interweaves intimate family stories with major historical and social changes.
On 4 November 2026, as part of the HNK2EU European Theatre Cycle in Zagreb, the Slovenian National Theatre Nova Gorica presented 1973, an original project by director and dramaturg Tomi Janežič, at HNK2. Performed to a full house, the production offered audiences a multilayered theatrical experience and was met with several minutes of applause.
The cast included Tamara Avguštin, Ana Facchini, Arna Hadžialjević, Patrizia Jurinčič Finžgar, Anuša Kodelja, Helena Peršuh, Matija Rupel, Marjuta Slamič and Žiga Udir. The production was created in co-production with GO! 2025 as part of the official programme of the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica–Gorizia. The guest performance in Zagreb was supported by a European Theatre Convention (ETC) grant for performing arts and collaboration.
The production has received numerous awards. In 2025, it won the Tantadruj Award for Best Overall Production. At the 56th Week of Slovenian Drama in 2026, it received the Audience Award for Best Production and the Šeligo Award for Best Production in the Competition Programme. At the 61st Borštnik Meeting in 2026, four individual awards were also presented: to Tomi Janežič for the overall dramaturgical concept, to Branko Hojnik for set design, and to Marjuta Slamič and Ana Facchini for their acting performances.
1973 is the second part of the theatrical dodecalogy 1972–1983, a theatrical omnibus comprising twelve productions directed by Tomi Janežič. The projects were created in Nova Gorica, Ljubljana, Timișoara, Ivano-Frankivsk and Novi Sad under the auspices of the Krušče Creative Centre. Presented throughout 2025 as part of the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica–Gorizia programme, the dodecalogy explores a network of life stories shaped by time, journeys and migration, as well as the phenomenon of theatre itself.
The HNK2EU cycle continues with Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day, based on the television series by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and co-produced by the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Prešeren Theatre Kranj, Slovenian Youth Theatre and Ptuj City Theatre. The co-production will premiere at HNK2 on 19 February 2027.
The production 1973 was created in co-production with GO! 2025 as part of the official programme of the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica–Gorizia.
The guest performance in Zagreb was supported by a European Theatre Convention (ETC) grant for performing arts and collaboration.
