The 35th edition of the Albanian Drama Festival "Talia e Flakës 2026" has concluded in Gjilan, with the fifth night's performance "Gërdia", a production of the National Theater of Kosovo.
The play “Gërdia”, an intimate psychological drama, deals with a man’s inner crisis, guilt, silence and fear of emotional exposure, opening up themes of masculinity, repressed feelings and the meaningless routine of life. The dramatic conflict is related to a traumatic event from the protagonist’s childhood, which gradually unfolds until the final clarification of the work.
The production, which was previously awarded as the winning text in the National Drama Competition “Katarina Josipi”, was presented in the official competition of the festival and was positively received by the Gjilan audience. The echo of the festival, considered unique in terms of organizational structure and content in national dramaturgy, as well as the fact that the performance bears the seal of the National Theater of Kosovo, brought art lovers from various Albanian cities to the hall.
The public interest was satisfactory even on the closing night, considering that “Gërdia”, with double authorship by Asdrit Kabashi, is a new production and was presented in Gjilan at an early stage of its artistic journey. Art lovers from Prishtina, Gjilan, Podujeva, Ferizaj, Lipjan, Dibra and other cities were present in the hall.
Critical reviews of the play were balanced, with the actors' performance being singled out as one of the strongest points of the production, with particular emphasis on the performance of actor Bujar Ahmeti. Playwright Agron Gërguri described the play as "a construction on the photograph of collective depression, personified through a character", emphasizing the power of the acting ensemble. Meanwhile, critic Shemsi Doda assessed that the play is built on an unstable narrative, where the boundary between reality, dream and nightmare often remains unclear.
With the play “Gërdia”, the curtain has fallen on the 35th edition of the “Talia e Flakës” Drama Festival. The evaluation of the participating plays is left to the professional jury composed of: Ali Demi, Tringa Hasani and Ilir Bokshi, who will award prizes in six categories, including best play, direction, text and acting performances.
After the conclusion of the drama festival, the "Flaka e Janarit 2026" Manifestation continues with activities in the field of musical and literary arts, until January 31, when it is expected to officially close with the award ceremony in the four main artistic pillars. /Telegrafi/
