Mario Kovač (born 25 October 1975) is a prominent

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

and movie director, but also known as a multi-talented entertainer, TV program maker, musician and DJ, as well as activist for numerous causes on the left and green political spectrum.

Early life

He was a member of Zagreb Youths Theatre school of acting from 1984 to 1996, and during that period he took part in over 50 professional and amateur projects, mainly as actor. He also played in many co-production foreign movies. In 1995, he formed Schmrtz Teatar as an independent theatre group of young people interested in theatre, modern primitivism, alternative lifestyles and subcultural activities as well as in recycling of the old ideas about ''modernity'' and ''political influence'' of theatre. In less than five years they have produced over 120 plays, performances, shows, concerts, happenings, installations or actions. In 2000 they drastically reduced their membership (down to nine people) and changed their name into Nova Grupa, but their ideology of civil politics and independent "do it yourself" lifestyle stays the same. This group is very well known in the circuit of student festivals and has performed on many of those across the world (most of

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, and elsewhere).

Theater work

As a part of ATTACKs (Autonoumos Factory of Culture) performing arts team he founded FAKI (''Front Alternativnog Kazališnog Ispada'' - Front of Alternative Theatre Outburst) with intention to promote, distribute and, generally, help independent theatre groups, mostly those who deal with street, student, low budget or

alternative theatre Fringe theatre is theatre that is produced outside of the main theatre institutions, and that is often small-scale and non-traditional in style or subject matter. The term comes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.Kemp, Robert, ''More that is Fre ...

. He was also one of the founders of K.R.A.D.U. (''Kazališna Revija Akademije Dramskih Umjetnosti'' - Theatre Review of Academy for Drama Arts) and NG
TEST!
-'Teatar Studentima' (Test! Theatar to the Students) both highly respected annual festivals in their fields. A special aspect of his theatre involvement is work with people with disabilities, where he was key person in He has directed many plays with them and even won some awards at major festivals. He also sings and plays (synth &

theremin The theremin (; originally known as the ætherphone/etherphone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox) is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer (who is known as a thereminist). It is named afte ...

) in several musical bands, most notably in cabaret punk band ''Zvonko & Gradski Ured za Kulturu'', avant/post noise band ''Tena Novak'', experimental audio/visual project ''Dada Jihad''. and art rock band Radost!.

Activism

Mario Kovač is a member of numerous grass-root movements in Zagreb and Croatia, often stepping up as both public persona and director-performer, taking risks and exposing himself. He was a victim of hate crime in first

Zagreb Pride Zagreb Pride () is the annual LGBTIQ+ pride march in the city of Zagreb, Croatia, which first took place in 2002, as the first successful pride march in Southeast Europe. Zagreb Pride organizers say their work was inspired by the Stonewall Rio ...

even before he had a chance to get to the stage. He took part in Pravo na Grad actions, as well as those initiated by

Zagreb is OURS Zagreb is OURS! ( hr, Zagreb je NAŠ!) is a municipalist green left political party from Zagreb, Croatia. After winning first seats in 2017 elections for the Zagreb Assembly and profiling itself as the most vocal opposition to the mayor Milan Ban ...

(Croatian: Zagreb je NAŠ!). In 2020 he is joining Croatian left-green coalition

We can! (Croatia) We Can! – Political Platform ( hr, Možemo! – politička platforma) is a left-wing, green political party in Croatia formed by local green and leftist movements and initiatives in order act on national level for European Parliament and parlia ...

(Croatian: Možemo!) as the lead candidate of the list for Diaspora (through a performance action again).

References

*https://web.archive.org/web/20110316133747/http://www.novilist.hr/hr/Scena/TV/Mario-Kovac-osvojio-120.942-kune-u-kvizu-1-protiv-100 *https://web.archive.org/web/20110930215833/http://www.kontra-punkt.info/print.php?sid=57845

External links

*
Biography on Osijek University (PhD)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovac, Mario 1975 births Living people Croatian film directors Croatian theatre directors Film people from Zagreb Theatre people from Zagreb Croatian LGBT rights activists Male actors from Zagreb