"Life is a Dream" Critical Review
- ADMIN
- May 2
- 3 min read
Jovana Stanković for presenting "Life is a Dream" at the 29th edition of Art Trema Fest, Serbia in March.
The 29th edition of the Art Trema festival in Ruma opened with the performance "Life is a Dream" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca, directed and adapted by Dina Markova and presented by the Bulgarian ZONG Theater.
This philosophical drama of the "Spanish Shakespeare" has been transformed by the young creative tandem Dina Markova and Boyan Arsov into a timeless story about a dream - does a prince dream that he is an abandoned child or does an abandoned child dream that he is a prince? The dramaturgical solution is bold and resourceful: the characters of Estreya and Rosaura are completely absent (and within this concept, their absence is not felt at all), and the text has been revised so as to correspond to the sought-after stage language. It is this language, built by Markova and Arsov (who is also responsible for the movement and choreography), that forms a clearly recognizable theatrical form based on physical presence and atmosphere.
The performance is immersed in a dark, almost horror atmosphere, which sounds even stronger in the chamber space of the festival stage, centimeters from the audience - as if this is exactly the format that suits it best. This feeling is reinforced by the scenography and costumes: a stage shrouded in smoke, a black-and-white visual environment, a beginning built through pantomime, and music that creates a feeling of the constant presence of evil. A key stage element is the stairs, which constantly change their meaning - sometimes they become the prison tower, sometimes the wings of Segismundo - an image of his freedom and flight.
Despite the strong visual solution and the good ensemble, the great responsibility in the performance falls on Boyan Arsov in the role of Segizmundo. His performance is precise and strong, and it is through the plasticity and choreography that the text becomes even clearer and more impactful.
One of the most interesting layers in the performance is the political one - the prophecy to Basilio that his son will become a tyrant if he comes to power. Therefore, he imprisons him, and later brings him drugged to the palace to see how he would rule. Thus, the performance goes beyond the theme of sleep and becomes a reflection on evil - can it be prevented through complete isolation, or does it always find a way to manifest itself. As a counterpoint, the sound of the harp appears, played live by Irina Parvanova - a moment of light and hope.
"Life is a Dream" by ZONG Theatre is a powerful and moving performance about man, power, evil and dreams - those of Segismundo, but also ours. It leaves behind the question of whether everything we dream about really has to become reality, or whether there are things that are better left in the world of imagination.
Tyranny must be stopped, but is that possible if you isolate a potential tyrant from the world and then throw him back among people? Rather not. Such an approach can even provoke it - as a kind of revenge on a wounded person. In conclusion, I will return to the opening line of the performance: "Planet Earth. Europe. Poland. The year? It doesn't matter." Tyranny is always the same - regardless of the place, regardless of the time. And perhaps the only way to fight it is in a dream.
We also share captured footage from "Life is a Dream"'s participation at the festival, created by photographer Stefan Zdraveski.
* The participation of "Life is a Dream" at Art Trema Fest, Serbia was made possible with the financial support of Sofia Municipality - Mobility 2026.
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