The Center for Children’s Theatre Development (CCTD) was established in December 2002 in Pristina, Kosova. Since then, CCTD has been working actively in the field of children’s theatre and children’s dramaturgy. CCTD organizes creative workshops with young playwrights and theatre artists, and produces theatre shows for children. The Center’s main project is called “Theatre for Children – Art and Education,” and “Children’s Mobile Theatre” is the central component of this project.
Theatre Prduction's:
BENI
Written by: Zymber Kelmendi
Cast: Labinot Lajçi – as Beni;
Adriana Matoshi – as Mom;
Albert Sylejmani – as Dad;
and Lenonora Mehmetaj – as the Social Worker.
Directed by: Zana Hoxha Krasniqi
Artistic Director: Jeton Neziraj
Production manager: Arben Zharku
Plot
Beni is the name of the main character, a young boy who is forced by his father to beg for money in the streets. Beni would prefer to attend school, but his father refuses; instead, Beni must him wear a piece of cardboard around his neck that reads: “I’m an orphan and I’m mute.” One day, Beni goes out and does not return home. After a while, his parents find him in a Center for Social Care where Beni had gone looking for shelter. His parents try to persuade him to come back, but Beni pretends that he does not know them. Through his actions, Beni remains in the Center for Social Care.
THE SCARECROW
Written by: Arian Krasniqi
Cast: Edona Reshitaj, Fisnik Ademi, Lule Ballata, Avni Thaci
Costume design: Njomza Luci
Directed by: Artur Tahiraj
Artistic Director: Jeton Neziraj
Production manager: Arben Zharku
Through a young boy’s make-believe story of a threatening scarecrow that prevents him from attending school, followed by a fellow student’s quest to unravel the truth, the play is mainly about children and lies. More specifically, The Scarecrow addresses children who lie to avoid doing homework, going to school, or studying.
THE LONGEST WINTER
June, 2005
Written by: Doruntina Basha, Jeton Neziraj, Zoran Ristic, and Andrew Zadel.
Directed by: Jonathan Chadwick
Set design: Bujar Sylejmani
Costume design: Alisa Maliqi
Production Manager: Arben Zharku
The Kosovan Actors: Adriana Matoshi, Artan Thaçi, Emine Toska, Shengyl Ismaili, Vedat Haxhiislami;
The Serbian Actors: Anika Milicevic, Dara Rancic, Djordje Djokovic, Milena Jaksic, Toma Bibic,
The play is based on the experiences of a Kosovar family dealing with a missing member, and explores the mood and emotions of individuals within the family as they live in anxiety, waiting to hear news of their beloved missing father and husband. "The Longest Winter" does not, however, address the political aspect of the problem; instead, it deals with the very human side of the issue.
PEACEMAKER
Saturday, April, 2005, at 12:00 hrs at the National Theatre co-production of the Center for Children`s Theatre Development (CCTD) and National Theatre of Kosova.
By: David Holman
Directed by: Scott K. Strode
Muzic: Avni Thaci Violine, Faton Halimi Clarinet, Arben Ademi
Tambourine Costume design: Njomkza Luci
Translated from the original by: Doruntina Basha
Artistic director: Jeton Neziraj
Production manager: Arben Zharku
Cast: Edona Reshitaj, Adriana Matoshi, Premtim Plakolli, Artan Geca
The story begins starts many years after the war of the Reds and the Blues is over; while they used to live in harmony, there is now a wall that divides their countries.
Of course, the Reds think that the Blues are horrible creatures with big teeth and claws, and the Blues think the same about Reds. Can simple things like two young peoples' quests to learn to juggle and dance change their perspectives of "the Other"?
Peacemaker addresses these questions, but, instead of offering answers, leaves the audience to ponder what will or should happen next.
THE FORBIDDEN LESSON
By Doruntina Basha, Jeton Neziraj and Shkëlzen Tuzi
Set and Costume design: Edi Agagjyshi
Ass, director: Adrian Morina
Directed by: Gareth Potter
Artistic Director: Jeton Neziraj
Production manager: Arben Zharku
Cast: Astrit Kabashi, Premtim Plakolli, Fatmir Spahiu, Gresa Pallaska, Shengyl Ismajli dhe Arta Selimi.
Plot
Forbidden Lesson is a show about sexuality and taboo. In the play, a biology teacher skips the lesson on human reproduction because he considers it to be “immoral”; two kids try to figure out what grown-ups mean by “sleeping together”; two teenagers experience their first kiss; a school principal distributes condoms to children thinking that they are balloons; and children ask their parents various questions but find that answers are hard to come by.
