The Land of the Sad Dogs

Première 16. 10. 2025, Tunel, Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana

Running time 2 hours, no intermission. 

Authors of the concept Filip Štepec, Jaka Smerkolj Simoneti

Choreographer Filip Štepec

Dramaturg Jaka Smerkolj Simoneti

Set and lighting designer Petra Veber

Costume designer Tina Pavlin

Sound designer Gašper Lovrec

Consultant Mojca Madon

Choreographic consultant Ana Romih

Instalation of the light Danilo Korelec, Klemen Sašek

Stage manager Stanko Božanić

Producer Alja Cerar Mihajlović/Katra Krsmanović

Instalation of the light Klemen Sašek

Stage tehnichian Kliment Petkukjeski

Workshop manager Zoran Srdić

Set, props and costume production Polona Černe, Iztok Bobić, Žiga Lebar, David Klemenčič, Sandra Birjukov, Zoran Srdić, Lorena Bukovec, Laura Krajnc, Marjeta Valjavec, Danilo Korelec, Olga Milić

Cast Filip Štepec

The Land of the Sad Dogs takes us on a journey across the landscapes of a mother–son relationship. Along the crossroads, encounters unfold between two bodies, between youth and age, city and village, man and woman. Between parting and returning, submission and liberation, mother and son seek each other again and again.

Rather than relying on spoken language, The Land of the Sad Dogs weaves together images, artefacts, and movements to give voice to the feelings that linger in glances, touches, and silences between mother and son. It is a tale of growing up and of the scars the process leaves behind. It‘s also a tale about the unbearable burdens imposed by family. Two bodies barking at each other incessantly, only to finally come together in the end.