The outstanding Canadian production Macbeth Muet, performed by La Fille Du Laitier Theatre from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, has been awarded Best Performance at the 4th Novi Sad Theatre Festival. The Grand Prix was awarded by a jury composed of costume designer Irina Somborac, director Tamara Kučinović, and dramaturge Divna Stojanov.
In their statement, the jury praised the production for "creating a space for understanding Shakespeare’s tragedy through a simple and accessible form of communication with the audience, regardless of age." By bringing the tragic form closer to younger generations, Macbeth Muet “offered audiences a path to catharsis through its witty and eclectic approach to one of the most dramatic of Shakespeare’s works.”
Following the performances of all seven entries in the competition program, held from May 7 to 11 at the Youth Theatre, the jury awarded Best Directing to Macbeth Muet creators Marie-Hélène Bélanger Dumas and Jon Lachlan Stewart. The jury commended their minimalist yet impactful directorial concept, which skillfully revealed themes of murder and power:
"The performance space offered intelligent directorial solutions, with a precise play on symbols and meanings. The rapid succession of symbolic images and brief focus on events gave the performance a sense of lightness and delight.”
The same production also received the award for Outstanding Acting Performance, given to two of its remarkable cast members, Marie-Hélène Bélanger Dumas and Jérémy Francoeur, for “their impressive acting skills and ability to animate objects.” The jury highlighted their “remarkable synchronicity, precision, and unpretentiousness, as well as their talent, authenticity, and skill in balancing comedy and tragedy.”
The Award for Excellence in Animation went to Russian-born French artist Vera Rozanova for her role in Don’t Wait for Me…, performed by La neige sur les cils Theatre from Nantes, France. Her performance was recognized for “a simple yet expressive animation style that created an intimate connection with the characters’ emotional struggles.”
The same production also received a Special Award for Visual Identity:
“All visual elements were stylistically consistent, playful, and functional. The puppets, in particular, left a strong impression with their simple yet expressive design, evoking warmth and a sense of home.”
The Special Award for Ensemble Performance went to the exceptional cast of the hilarious show The Adventures of Little Juju by Rijeka City Puppet Theatre (Croatia). The jury commended the group for their “dedication, unity, and energetic performance,” noting their skill in combining