The first Slovenian national theatre operated in White Carniola

Abstract

The Slovenian National Theatre, the first to be clearly designated Slovenian national theatre, was established in the liberated territory of White Carniola on 12 January 1944. It was not merely another in the series of Liberation Front theatres set up for the purposes of political propaganda and heightening the fighting morale of the partisans. From August 1944 onwards, when the main part of theatre capacity in the liberated territory of White Carniola was consolidated in Črnomelj, increasing attention was given to a more challenging repertoire from the treasury of the world and Slovenian drama. In addition to performing activist roles, the theatre staged works from the permanent Slovenian repertoire (Cankar, Linhart), the treasury of the world drama (Molière, Čehov, Nušić) and contemporary Slovenian productions (Bor). On the other hand, it was compelled to abandon a few ideas (Shakespeare, Schiller) due to its short period of operation and the lack of experienced actors.