About the Show

Skup 4th May, 3:00pm-6:00pm - York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium £15 Standard £15 Pass It On! (purchase a ticket for a member of our refugee and asylum seeker community who would otherwise be unable to attend this event) £5 Student (available for students with a valid ID card) Marin Držić—poet, playwright, political thinker, and actor—is the father of Croatian theatre. He died in Venice in May 1567, just a week after young William Shakespeare celebrated his third birthday. Like Shakespeare, Držić wrote largely in verse, drawing inspiration from classical sources such as Plautus while infusing his work with sharp wit, playful satire, and a deep love for his birthplace—Ragusa, now Dubrovnik. His plays capture the spirit of the city, from sparkling short comedies for weddings and festivities to full-length works for Dubrovnik’s acting troupes. A master of intrigue, mistaken identity, and social critique, Držić’s work bridges the Renaissance world and the sharp humour of modern theatre. Now, thanks to actor and series translator Filip Krenus—working in collaboration with the House of Marin Držić in Dubrovnik—we have the first-ever English translations of Držić’s plays. We are thrilled to present the premiere readings of these vibrant new texts. As part of this festival, we bring you fresh translations of Skup (Pinch Hoard) and Venus and Adonis. Joining us for discussions and staged readings will be Nikša Matić from the House of Marin Držić, translators Filip Krenus and Wendy Bracewell, as well as actors and directors from York. Together, we will delve into the wit, energy, and sheer theatricality of Držić’s world—on the page and on the stage. 3:00 – An introduction to Marin Držić by Filip Krenus and Nikša Matić 3:30 – Pinch Hoard, a staged reading, abbreviated for this occasion and introduced by Filip Krenus, directed by Claire Morley 4:30 – Break 5:00 – An introduction to Venus and Adonis with Wendy Bracewell and Filip Krenus 5:15 – Venus and Adonis and Will and Alice A liberated presentation of Venus and Adonis by Marin Držić, with contributions from Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis and some contemporary anarchy to wonder what might have been. Directed by Philip Parr.