Qendra Multimedia (Kosovo) and National Experimental Theatre "Kujtim Spahivogli" (Albania) present:

GADJO

(The Young Europeans)

written by Jeton Neziraj // directed by: Blerta Neziraj // actors: Edona Reshitaj, Juli Emiri, Verona Koxha, Rafael Hoxhaj, Blend Sadiku // composer: Jindrich Cizek // costumograph: Blagoj Micevski // visual concept and stage: Mentor Berisha // stage construction: Beqo Nanaj // lights: Yann Perregaux, Mursel Bekteshi // sound & light technician: Taulant Kotorri

In 2019, in Kosovo, a series of physical assaults were reported on a Roma woman. She was a refugee who a few weeks previously had been forcibly returned from Belgium to Kosovo, and she was now trying to adapt to a new society and environment. A few days after her return, when she decided to leave the refugee center in Podujeva, a local media outlet released a false news item about, “a man who looks like a woman, who is stealing children in Kosovo.” The unverified report quickly spread to other media in Kosovo and in Albania. The outcome was that the Roma woman was attacked, and brutally assaulted by a group of young people in various towns.

“Gadjo”, (a term used by the Roma to describe the non-Roma), aims to encourage a debate about racism and violent extremism amongst young people. It also aims to research and analyze this century of ignorance and intolerance that is encouraged and promoted by an irresponsible media, in a chaotic and out-of-control media landscape, where the need for “clicks” has transformed into an overarching purpose. “Gadjo'’ challenges and confronts our societies about the Roma, myths about them, and their position in our societies, where racism, and contempt are deeply embedded in our consciousness.

“Gadjo” is a play for all those young people, who with 'courage' and 'determination' are embracing this century of violence and impatience, to which we have all contributed, and most of all, our media, and our schools. The demons of violence have reawakened and are dancing through our town squares…