Gogol's Auditor: Corruption as a mirror of our society!

Gogol's Auditor: Corruption as a mirror of our society!

Director Mateja Koležnik brings Gogol's timeless play “Revisor” to the stage of the Academy Theater in Vienna, and opinions about its production are already highly controversial. In an interview with APA, Koležnik said that her experiences with corruption in both parts of Europe motivated her to make the characters in the play realistic and credible. "I come from a part of the world where every politician and every civil servant is corrupt. That's what fascinated me about the piece," she explains and at the same time wonders whether we still live in a world in which an auditor can really come. She sees the challenge in not only presenting the piece as a comedy, but also in sharply criticizing reality.

The importance of culture and art

But the conversation is not just about the theater: Koležnik also addresses the difficult situation of culture in Slovenia, where artists receive less and less support. “Culture doesn’t matter in Slovenia,” she says, lamenting the lack of public awareness and support, even at a time when the country was celebrated as the European Capital of Culture. Nevertheless, she is optimistic about the performance of her “Threepenny Opera” at SNG Drama Ljubljana, even if the financial situation seems alarming. “We don't have half as much money as before, but ten times less,” she notes, which threatens the existence of the art scene. In the midst of these challenges, however, audiences remain loyal to the cultural offerings.

Koležnik has staged numerous important works in recent years, including Ibsen's “Wild Duck” and “Casimir and Karoline”. She is a significant voice in the German-speaking theater landscape and sharply criticizes the lack of political measures to support the art scene. As she says: "The politicians prefer to support the sporting events with their presence. We have become completely irrelevant." It remains to be seen how her production of “Revisor,” which premieres on December 14, will stimulate discussion about political corruption and the role of art in our society, the APA reported. Further information about the background and the production can be found on the Burgtheater website.