Unterstadt

After eighteen years, Katarina returns to her hometown of Osijek, to visit her estranged mother, only for her to die just before she arrives. Guided by an old family friend, Katarina embarks on a journey through her family history. Characters from a distant past come to life; her great-grandfather, who fought in World War I, and her grandmother’s siblings, who fought on opposite sides in World War II. But there are also ghosts from a more recent past: Katarina’s boyfriend, who died during the wars of the 1990s, and her parents and grandmother, who hid their true heritage from her.

The play follows four generations of women of German descent living in Osijek from the beginning of the twentieth century through to the beginning of the twenty first.

Unterstadt is an award-winning Croatian play, adapted from the novel of the same name, by author Ivana Šojat. First staged in 2012 at the Croatian National Theatre, directed by Zlatko Sviben, the play has since won more than 20 theatre awards, including the Croatian Theatre Awards for Best Directorial Achievement and Best Overall Play.

The staged reading was presented by special arrangement with Ivana Šojat, Zlatko Sviben and the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek.

Supported by Language Acts and Worldmaking.