Wajdi Mouawad’s drama Birds of a Kind (Tous des oiseaux) shot to international fame last year. In this family saga about a Jewish family with international roots, Lebanese-Canadian playwright Mouawad, who is currently based in France, focuses on the Other as an absolute idea. From the depths of history appears the figure of a Muslim diplomat who is kidnapped and given to the Pope as a gift, whereupon he is forced to convert to Catholicism. The action of the play opens in the library of New York’s Columbia University, where a young genetics researcher meets a historian writing her doctoral thesis, and then jumps to a terrorist attack in Jerusalem. Wahida is researching the life of an Arab diplomat from 500 years ago, while Eitan, who lives with his family in Berlin, is searching for his lost grandmother. Part political thriller and part emotionally charged love story, Birds of a Kind offers a metaphorical picture of humanity as a planet entirely populated by birds and attempts to go a step further in the examination of consciences with regard to responsibilities for war. Ivica Buljan has been a theatre director since 1995, working in Slovenia, his native Croatia and numerous European countries. He has won several international theatre awards for his work, including the Borštnik Ring at the Maribor Theatre Festival and a Prešeren Fund Prize. He is a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Since 2019 he has been the director of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

Dear visitors to the Ljubljana Festival,

Please be advised that in accordance with the Ordinance on temporary measures to reduce the risk of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and contain the spread of infection, the use of a protective face mask or other form of protection for the mouth and nose area (scarf, bandana or similar form of protection covering the nose and mouth) and the disinfection of hands are compulsory in enclosed public spaces.
In view of the prescribed compulsory preventive measures, we invite all those attending Festival events to bring with them their own suitable protective covering for the mouth and nose. In order to avoid complications, we recommend bringing a protective face mask.
In order to safeguard the health of other festivalgoers and performers, we reserve the right to refuse entry to the venue to anyone arriving at the venue without a suitable protective covering for the mouth and nose or refusing to disinfect their hands. Please note that in such circumstances, we will not refund the cost of the ticket to the event.
Festivalgoers are further advised that anyone not using a suitable protective covering for their mouth and nose during an event (for example by removing the mask or other covering from their face), or who through any other action presents a risk to the health of other festivalgoers or performers, will not be allowed to remain in the venue and will be ejected with the help of the venue’s security personnel.
Please note that in the event of the introduction of additional restrictive measures (including, but not limited to, the measuring of an individual’s temperature), we reserve the right to refuse admission to the venue to any individual should we have any concerns of a medical nature.
All festivalgoers are requested to consistently observe the compulsory and recommended preventive measures to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and in this way ensure the protection of their own health and that of others.

Thank you for your understanding.