Woman from the Sea Premieres on Lokrum: Ibsen's Drama of Love and Freedom
The third drama premiere of the 77th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, directed by Ivan Plazibat, brings a modern adaptation of Ibsen's play, starring Nina Violić in the lead role.
The third drama premiere of the 77th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, directed by Ivan Plazibat, brings a modern adaptation of Ibsen's play, starring Nina Violić in the lead role.
The final drama premiere of the 77th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Henrik Ibsen's "The Lady from the Sea", directed by Ivan Plazibat, was presented to the media last night on the island of Lokrum, where it will also be performed. The play was discussed by the drama program director Senka Bulić, director Plazibat, and dramaturge Petra Pogorevc, while members of the Festival Drama Ensemble introduced their roles.
The premiere is scheduled for August 20, 2026, with additional performances on August 21, 22, 23, and 24, all starting at 9 PM.
The play follows Ellida Wangel, a lighthouse keeper's daughter who grew up where the fjord meets the open sea. Her husband is Doctor Wangel, whom she deeply loves, but she has never forgotten the mysterious sailor, her true love whose real name remains unknown to all. When that unknown man reappears in her life, Ellida must decide which path she wants to take in the future.
Director Plazibat and dramaturge Pogorevc highlighted the play's key question:
"Can love exist without freedom? That is the question Henrik Ibsen poses in The Lady from the Sea, one of his most subtle and intimate dramas."
The new adaptation retains the core motifs of Ibsen's drama but relocates them from a Norwegian fjord to a Mediterranean island. The authors paid special attention to the supporting characters, developing them within the context of a generational gap that is deeper than ever.
"By moving the love triangle between Ellida, Wangel, and the Stranger into a contemporary context, we want to tell a story that entertains as much as it raises questions about freedom, responsibility, and the possibility of choosing our own life."
The cast includes Nina Violić as Ellida Wangel, Franjo Dijak as Doctor Wangel, Nikolina Prkačin as Bolette, Tea Harčević as Hilde, Adrian Pezdirc as Lyngstrand, Rakan Rushaidat as Arnholm, and Jure Henigman as the Stranger.
Set design is by Zdravka Ivandija Kirigin, costumes by Petra Pavičić, lighting by Vesna Kolarec, music by Hrvoje Nikšić, proofreading by Ines Carović, and the stage manager is Stella Švacov Miletić.
