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Life in Kosovo” discusses the Election of the National Theatre Director

11 09 2008  This week’s “Life in Kosovo” show debated the question: “When are we going to have a new director of the National Theater?

The position of director of the National Theater of Kosovo has been advertised for a third time. Why has the selection of candidates been delayed for so long? What are the key criteria for candidate selection? What are the key challenges facing the future director? How do potential candidates propose to bring people back to the theater and offer high-quality drama to audiences? What is the vision and plan of potential candidates to restore the reputation of the National Theater?

To discuss these issues, the following candidates for the position of director were guests on the panel:

Jeton Budima - Film director ;
Emine Toska - Actress, currently taking a master’s program in film direction.
Avni Abazi - Actor Arian Krasniqi - Dramaturge ;
Xhavit Muçaj - Film director Ahmet Brahimin - Head of the National Theater administrative council.

The debate started with a simple question: “why do you consider yourself to be the best candidate for director of the National Theater?”

Budima opened the discussion. “I have the necessary skills and abilities in organizing and managing public opinion,” he said. “But the main motivation for me to apply for this position is to resolve the critical situation in the theater, which can be achieved only through good management and a long-term strategic plan.”

Budima said an additional reason to support his application was his profession as a film director, which requires management skills.

“It is important not to apply the same management as former director Teki Dervishi, who was politicized and manipulative,” he said.

Responding to the same question, Toska said, “I have been working in the theater for the last 16 years and I know the main problems that exist in the theater.”

She said she had sound managerial skills and was involved in several private companies as a manager.

Abazi said he was the best candidate in view of his experience as a film producer and the founder of the Albanian American Play House. Abazi is also a former member of Dodona Theater, the National Theater of Kosovo, and the National Theater of Albania, and he has been an actor at the American University in Bulgaria.

Krasniqi pointed out that he is a qualified dramaturge and has been the architect of several plays performed at Dodona Theater; he has also participated in the 9/11 Festival.

“In the management sphere I’m one of the founding members of the ‘Scene UP’ Festival,” he said, adding that he founded and led the theater magazine “Lura” and had three years’ experience as manager of the Kids Theater.

He added that compared to other candidates, he has seven years of experience with international institutions. He said that this had given him an insight on work and an appreciation of the importance of accountability.

Muçaj introduced himself as the manager of a cinematography company and the producer of 12 movies.

“Compared to the others, at least I know how to manage and implement a project. The main task of the director would be management therefore I believe I am the best candidate,” he said.

After short introductions, discussion moved to a more detailed consideration of candidates and their experience, set against the specific skills that a theater director should have.

Mucaj noted that, “the place for actors and producers is in preparing plays,” and he added that it is necessary to select a good manager so that the theater can be brought back to life.

The criteria for the selection of candidates include an advanced university degree in the theater sphere, and at least three years experience in managing cultural projects/events.

Apart from that, fluency in English and good organizational skills are required. This is the first time that knowledge of a foreign language has been set as a requirement.

A commission established in the theater will select the candidate through a secret ballot and make a recommendation to the Ministry of Culture.

A question was raised about whether knowledge of English had been set as a requirement in order to exclude old-fashioned directors.

Budimaj avoided the question, but pointed out that a director cannot work through an interpreter all the time.

He added that he was “surprised to see such a large number of people interested in this position considering the problems and responsibilities they will face and the low salary of 120 Euros they will receive.”

Noting that the theater had experienced chronic problems with working conditions, irregular rehearsals and a lack of qualified staff, Krasniqi said that “initially, I will enforce the regulation for the organization and functioning of the theater.

Once selected for this position I will resign from my post at the Kosovo Property Agency, despite the fact that I receive a higher income there.”

Budima said that problems could be solved by hiring qualified staff, developing specific job descriptions for current employees, and increasing their salaries and other incentives through a new system.

Toska argued that “the key problem in the theater is internal communications among theater employees, and the current management style.”

Abazi said that it was not just the National Theater in Kosovo that was experiencing difficulties but that theaters throughout the world were in crisis.

“It would be a success if we could convince young people to leave coffee bars and come back to the theater,” he added.

Mucaj said the greatest challenge was to improve working conditions. “Once you develop and provide good quality plays the audience will be there,” he argued.

Culture journalist Arif Muharremi presented a report on popular opinions about the Opera and Ballet project that is scheduled to be implemented in the near future.

Budimaj seemed to be convinced that currently there is no audience for Opera and Ballet though the situation may change in the future. Other guests agreed with this in the closing stages of the debate.

Fatos Berisha, one of the candidates for the Director’s position, declined to attend the debate because he said it would “counterproductive”.

He said his program would be “introduced only in front of the interviewing panel.”

As part of the “Week’s Highlight” section, journalist Betim Musliu presented a report on companies contracted by the Ministry of Transport constructing the “Prishtina-Airport” highway in the middle of a wet autumn night.


Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday, starting at 20:20.