The premiere of ‘An Ideal Husband’ received a warm ovation from the audienceFrom the theatre — 06. June 2026.
Prolonged applause and enthusiastic ovations from the audience marked the premiere of Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, the final drama premiere of the season at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.
The audience greeted the premiere of Wilde's An Ideal Husband, the final drama premiere of the season at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, with prolonged applause and enthusiastic ovations.
The premiere of An Ideal Husband, directed by Aleksandar Popovski, confirmed that Oscar Wilde's play has lost none of its relevance more than a century after it was written. Popovski has shaped the well-known drama into an intelligent social satire that successfully combines humour with a sharp commentary on politics, power and social hypocrisy.
Wilde's distinctive style, marked by aphorisms, paradoxes and witty dialogue, gains an added contemporary dimension in this production through precise performances and dynamic direction. An additional point of interest is that the play was written 131 years ago, the same year in which the present building of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb was inaugurated.
At the centre of the story is the respected politician Sir Robert Chiltern, whose impeccable public reputation begins to unravel when secrets from his past resurface. Through his story, Wilde explores corruption, political responsibility and moral compromise – themes that remain strikingly relevant today.
Particular praise went to Igor Kovač as Sir Robert Chiltern, Daria Lorenci Flatz as Lady Chiltern, Ana Begić Tahiri as Mrs Cheveley, and Krešimir Mikić as the witty and charming Lord Goring. The production's strength, however, lies above all in the cohesive and convincing performances of the entire ensemble.
Strong audience interest is reflected in the fact that upcoming performances have already sold out, making An Ideal Husband one of the most sought-after titles of the closing part of the theatre season.
