On Tuesday, April 1, at 5:30 PM, we invite you to Willa Decjusza for the immersive theater performance Who Wants My Land?, which is the result of the artist’s three-month residency at Willa Decjusza as part of the ARTS IN EXILE program.
Who Wants My Land? is a powerful theatrical production that explores the fundamental human need for peace – or at least a dignified death. The performance encourages reflection on how experiences shape our thoughts and how war can breed trauma, hatred, and a desire for revenge. The inspiration for the play came from conversations with Ukrainian refugees in Bucharest and Kraków, as well as the personal experiences of the playwright, who grew up in the war-torn Balkans of the 1990s. The main character of the play is a Ukrainian refugee who returns to her home to confront the painful past of the day she lost her family. The horrors of the day she fled transform into a force that allows her to move forward in life.
The performance takes the form of immersive theater, incorporating elements of Theater of Cruelty and Poor Theater, emphasizing the symbolism of war, memory, and forgiveness. The play will be staged in different areas of Willa Decjusza – both indoors and in the garden – where each scene will symbolize the seven days of the week and the Seventh Circle of Hell, as described by Dante. The performance will culminate in a symbolic burial of weapons, expressing hope for a world free from violence.
“In this play, which I began working on a year ago by conducting interviews with Ukrainian refugees and completed at Willa Decjusza, I aim to highlight the threat of the extinction of the Ukrainian people and their language. The war in Ukraine is fundamentally driven by racism, systemic hatred, and an attempt to erase the history of this ancient nation. On April 1, I will present an immersive performance, Who Wants My Land?, in Kraków, offering a unique experience unfolding within the spaces of Willa Decjusza and its surroundings.” – says Butrint Pasha.
Born in Kosovo in 1992, Butrint Pasha is a theater director and playwright. He studied theater directing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Pristina and has directed numerous productions addressing social issues, family, and sensitive topics. He is also a human rights activist, working on integration programs for marginalized groups. He received the Special Award at the FTF Festival 2003 for his play Sober. His artistic approach is influenced by New Brutalism, and his works often center around female protagonists.
Additionally, he has translated plays from English, including Mike Bartlett’s Bull (nominated for EURODRAM 2023). He is the author of the plays “Ping Pong & Love” (2023) and “Red Light on Sunday” (2023). Currently, he is writing his first novel, based on his own experiences of childhood in the shadow of war.
The project operator is the Villa Decius Association. The project is carried out as part of the Culture Moves Europe program financed by the European Union.
