The Požega City Library offered its audience the duodrama “Like Mother, Like Daughter”, performed by the cast of the “Smješko” Theatre. The multi-award-winning production brings to life the lesser-known, deeply personal side of the life of Marija Jurić Zagorka, the first Croatian journalist and writer.
The play is based on a text by Frane Marija Vranković and was directed by Jasmin Novljaković. It draws on rich archival material, Zagorka’s biographical notes and her autobiographical novel “Kamen na cesti” (A Stone on the Road). The plot follows the turbulent coexistence and the tense, complex relationship between the young Marija Jurić Zagorka and her mother, Josipa Jurić, née Domin.
Mother Josipa had a decisive, often extremely difficult and restrictive influence on Zagorka’s upbringing, shaping her later life choices and fearless fighting spirit. The roles of mother and daughter were played by actresses Mirta Zečević and Mia Krajcar, whose acting synergy was previously awarded at festivals such as Glumište pod murvom in Skradin and noted at the Festival of the Actor in Vinkovci. The musical atmosphere of the play is signed by composer Damir Šimunović.
The guest performance was organised as part of the Month of the Croatian Book, within the programme “Audience Development in Culture – A Satisfied Audience Wants More”. The Požega City Library has been implementing this programme for the second consecutive year with financial support from the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia.
Residents of Požega rewarded the actresses and their performance with a long, warm applause, confirming the local audience’s interest in content that combines literature, theatre and history.
