Professor Balthazar – Around the World

Petra Radin CREATIVE TEAM Text: Petra Radin Director: Mario Kovač Costume design: Barbara Bourek Set design: Matija Šantić Puppets, props and opera model: Dunja Niemčić Costume making: Barbara Bourek, Nikolina Husain and Dijana Mijić Music: Tomislav Babić "Bal Baltazar" song: Tomica Simović Movement and choreography: Maja Kovač CAST Petra Radin Marko Hergešić Filip Detelić / Andrija Nazlić SYNOPSIS "Professor Balthazar – Around the World" is a joyful story about possibility, diversity and good intentions, featuring the original cartoon characters and its recognisable music. It follows a curious bird who is always late everywhere because she wants to see all the beauty of the world. Unfortunately, her curiosity ends up separating her from her flock. Alone, lost and sad, the bird arrives in Zagreb, where she meets a street sweeper who leads her to Professor Balthazar, her only hope of rescue. Professor Balthazar is a legendary character from the animated series known to many generations — children, their parents, and even grandparents. For decades he has brought stories of friendship, love and knowledge to our screens, showing us that cartoon heroes don't need to be loud or aggressive to capture our attention. Tvornica lutaka and Scena Gorica bring Professor Balthazar to the stage while faithfully following the aesthetics and ethics of the original. Playwright Petra Radin drew on motifs from several well-known Professor Balthazar episodes, skilfully weaving them into a story about a journey toward understanding — the journey of two friends, the street sweeper and the bird Toni, searching for Baltazargrad. Their journey gave the creators a unique opportunity to depict two worlds on stage: the real one, based on existing and familiar locations, and the imaginary one, where all wonders are possible.