The Festival of Zagreb's cabaret tradition

This year's 4th Gumbek's Days will take place between the 15th and the 27th of March. During this period the festival of Zagreb's cabaret tradition will feature a total of 13 plays that entirely or partially belong to cabaret theatre.

This year, between the 15th and the 27th of March, Zagreb's rich cabaret tradition will once again be presented to the city’s audience. The annual festival is being held for the fourth time and it is fully dedicated to the cabaret tradition. The renowned festival of cabaret, Gumbek's Days, got its name after the legendary cabaret performer from Zagreb, Mladen Crnobrnja - Gumbek (1939 - 2000). The festival is being organized by the Histrion theatre troupe with which Mladen Crnobrnja often performed, even though he was a member of the ensemble of the Jazavac satirical theatre.

The festival will feature a total of 13 plays that entirely or partially belong to the cabaret theatre of Zagreb tradition, with the exception of three plays performed by international troupes. These include the privately-produced Slovenian play, “From silence to music”, Bosnian “Adem and Eva” by the Teatar Kabare from Tuzla, and Serbian “Do all kinds of things to me” by the Slavija Theatre.

The 4th Gumbek's Days will be ceremonially opened by the premiere of the play “Soap Bubble” by the Histrion troupe, and directed by Ivan Goran Vitez. The same troupe will also perform the play “The Hunter's Horn”. Among other domestic cabaret plays, audiences will also have an opportunity to enjoy an array of very interesting plays such as the “Novices” by the Croatian National Theatre of Varaždin, “Cabaret of three Piggies” and “Amateurs” by the KNAP Theatre, “A Miracle in Poskokova Draga” by the Kerempuh Theatre, “Bye, call me or the reply of the century” by the Grdelin Theatre, “To the stars through difficulties” by the Exit Theatre, “To Remetinec, to Remetinec” by the Gemišt troupe, and “Rock band Animals” by the Trešnja Theatre.

The closing of the festival, which will take place at the headquarters of the Histrion troupe in Zagreb, will feature an interesting evening of poetry entitled “The Winds’ Plaything” performed by the famous Croatian poet, Lada Kos, and actress, Lela Margetić. Afterward, the special festival awards, Gumbek statuettes, will be presented for the best comedy play, the best male and female role, and the most significant contribution to the art of cabaret.
Titles of the plays, as well as the tradition of this relatively young festival, are a perfect invitation for entertainment because where there is cabaret, there is loads of laughter.