Škofja Loka Passion Play

Original title Processio locopolitana
Première 10. september 2020, Prešernovo gledališče Kranj
Running time 1 hour 35 minutes. No intermission.
The text of the performance was created by the creative team during the rehearsal process.

Director Jernej Lorenci
Dramaturg Matic Starina
Choreographer and assistant director Gregor Luštek
Set designer Branko Hojnik
Costume designer Belinda Radulović
Composer Branko Rožman
Language consultant Maja Cerar
Lighting designer Borut Bučinel
Make-up designer Matej Pajntar

Cast
Doroteja Nadrah
Darja Reichman
Miha Rodman
Blaž Setnikar
Miranda Trnjanin as guest
Gregor Zorc as guest

The song Mount of Olives Under the Cloak of Silent Night on the record is sung by Pipa Lorenci.

The Škofja Loka Passion Play or Processio locopolitana is the oldest preserved dramatic work in standard Slovenian from the beginning of the 18th century with the spoken peculiarities of the local environment. The text in 863 rhymed verses was written in 1721 by Father Romuald – born Lovrenc Marušič in Štandrež near Gorica – who conceived the mystery of human salvation in a series of thirteen tableaux. The story, with a distinctly the(le)ological straightforwardness, begins with the Old Testament expulsion of the first couple from paradise as a consequence of man’s first transgression against God – the original sin. After man’s fall into sin, which the Judeo-Christian tradition perceives as the work of an evil spirit, the world is ruled by Death, which no one can escape. So everyone follows it in this dance macabre – starting with the pope, cardinals, kings – to citizens, farmers, all the way to the last beggar. But through the shocking parable of eternal doom in hell, which serves as a warning to all sinful souls, the hope of salvation still smoulders in anticipation of the Messiah. Thus, the third part of the passion play is followed by the scenes of King David, the Ark of the Covenant and the tomb of God. The death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection represent victory over evil, and in turn, Jesus was carried around the city in a solemn procession as a great conqueror. Until his resurrection, humanity is still shrouded in grief, as indicated by the mournful music. Yet grief is only a transitional period that will also bring physical victory over death – which is why the story of The Škofja Loka Passion Play is, in essence, bright, redeeming and full of hope. Its true story, therefore, begins only after the end of the play – in the world here and now.