“Wrong Dinner” at National Theatre

TIRANA, May 12 – “Darka e Gabuar,” (Wrong Dinner) a drama based on the novel under the same title written by Ismail Kadare, will be staged this weekend at the National Theatre in Tirana for the second time after successfully having its premiere last May.
Dramatized and directed by Fatos Haxhiraj, the “Wrong Dinner” will be performed for three consecutive evenings from November 19 to 21 at 19.00 bringing together some of the best actors of the National Theatre such as Ndricim Xhepa, Artan Imami, Bujar Asqeriu.
The drama tells the story of a mysterious dinner in the German occupied southern town of Gjirokastra in 1943 between a Nazi commander and his Albanian university friend, a doctor in Gjirokastra. The mysterious dinner is later investigated by the Albanian communist authorities.
The drama has been acclaimed for its originality, thrill and language.
Presenting the drama at the National Theatre earlier this year, director Haxhiraj, who returned to the National Theatre after 20 years of living and working in Italy, said he chose the drama for its ideas and characters, convinced in the cast of actors he picked to perform.
Several other books written by Kadare, the 2009 winner of Spain’s Prince of Asturias literary Prize, have also been successfully turned into movies and plays. Last October, the 2005 Man Booker International Prize winner, also grabbed the first prize in Italy’s “Lerici Pea” poetry festival.
Wrong Dinner follows the stage of the Sophocles’ Electra which opened the new season at the National Theatre at the end of September.
Last July, the National Theatre closed its 10-month season with the stage of seven premieres, among which four international and regional co-productions, registering a record number of premieres during the past 20 years.
The National Theatre, which also celebrated its 65th anniversary of foundation this year, was decorated with the highest “Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu” order and had seven of its artists honoured.