The Oldest Theater Play in the World

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the play “Exercises in Style”. The show has had almost the same cast since it premiered, which makes it the longest consistently running play in the world and worthy of official candidacy for the Guinness Book of Records, which it has recently been put up for.

On 19 January, the doyens of the Croatian theater, Lela Margetić and Pero Kvrgić, once again appeared in the cult performance “Exercises in Style”, which has been part of the Croatian theater repertoire for 40 years. This was an important jubilee – the performance of the longest running theater play in the world, unique in the sense that it has had the same cast for 38 years. That is why “Exercises in Style” has been officially put up for entry in the Guinness Book of Records. However, the play “Mousetrap”, which is still running in London, is somewhat older than our own play. 

The play “Exercises in Style” was directed in 1968 by Tomislav Radić who based his play on the text written by the French poet and novelist Raymond Queneau. The story revolves around an incident from everyday life - two young men having an argument in public transportation (tram number 11), because one of them stepped on the other’s foot. This pointless tale has become a brilliant comedy which has kept many generations in stitches as it is retold in a number of variations and styles by the two virtuoso artists who have secured the play its longevity and the unyielding interest of the audience.