Profile of Dritëro Kasapi

Dritëro Kasapi was born in 1975 in Macedonia. With his Albanian - Turkish origins, his Macedonian education and an engaged commitment to the theatre, Kasapi is one of the shining lights in the future of Macedonian and European theatre. He is founder and artistic director of the Children’s Theatre Center in Skopje, Macedonia and is artisitic director at Gottsunda Dans & Teater in Uppsala, Sweden. Besides theatre Kasapi is writing scripts and directing for the Common Ground Productions.

Kasapi´s artistic engagement has developed hand in hand with his social and political awareness. His understanding of the power of art grew while working in the refugee camps in Macedonia during the Kosovo war. Setting up performances, workshops and creating co-operations between refugee youth, refugee artists and Macedonian and international artists he understood that no war, no gated refugee camp can beat the joy of creating and the joy of exchanging feelings and thoughts among people. Kasapi´s best known work is Asylum, one of the highlights of LANSDSCAPE X – Euralien in Stockholm (1998). Selected work in theatre: Boy with a suitcase (2006), Svennebygränd (2005), The Inspector general (2004), The Strip (Uppsala City Thetare 2000/2001), Paradise Tomorrow by T. Dervishi - a co-production with Theatre of Nationalities /Albanian Drama, Macedonia, The National Theatre, Albania, The National Theatre, Kosovo and Intercult, Sweden (2000). Roberto Zucco by B.M.Koltes - Skopje City Theatre (1999); Museum of Stories- a co-production between Mala Stanica Skopje and ArenaZ Festival - Erlangen, Germany (1997); Furka by O. Georgievski (1996) etc.