We tried to be artists in a country that lost interest in anything but the nation. Patriotism of an aggressive, xenophobic, narrow-minded kind became the only value. The world became black & white. All the "others" were portrayed as cruel beasts and primitive criminals. "Our side", however, had the sacred right to fight for "freedom" and correct historical injustices, regardless of the consequences. We lived in a world where television screens spewed so much hatred that the viewers who absorbed it could only go insane.

We tried to stay what we were. We tried to defend our values, our profession, our sanity. We tried not to surrender to the madness. We refused to accept the idea that all the people on the other side were guilty. We tried to stay true to our friends and our audience, regardless of which side they found themselves.

Then the killing began.
We were defeated.

That's why there is a need in those of us who come from the late Yugoslavia to let our voice be heard through this eternal story. That is our little way to say: Stop it! Think of people, not of states. Think of people, not of nations. Think of people, not of allies and enemies. Think of people, not of maps. Think of bridges, not of borders.

Our voice is almost silent, there is just a handful of us scattered around the world, some are dead, others dead spiritually, but we have to keep that tiny voice alive. This performance is our attempt to do that.

We thank our American colleagues for being with us. We dedicate our production to all our friends who had to leave their homes to protect their lives, both physically and spiritually. Some of them have contributed to this production, proving that nothing can stop the communication between artists. We give our whole-hearted support to all the people of the former Yugoslavia who have been displaced, stripped of their lives and homes in order to fit into the new map, conceived in Hell.

Hvala : Koja, Deki, Srdjan, Vladen, Goran, Ivan, Radan

Thank You : John I., and crew, John V., Joel, Paul, and B5

Copyright Gajic & Furlan Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.