Of course. It was a kind of process I had not been part of before. It was challenging, but also very enjoyable. Since Homer’s Odyssey features a large number of characters, some actors had to take on multiple roles. I was given four wonderful tasks — Helen, Anticlea, Polites, and Penelope.
This was said to Glas by one of the more talented actresses of the younger generation, Milica Vokić, on the occasion of the recent premiere of the play Odysseus – the making of a hero. The piece was recently premiered at the Semberija City Theatre in Bijeljina, receiving very positive reactions from both critics and audiences. The text was based on motifs from Homer’s famous epic, written by Divna Stojanov, while the play was directed by Ivan Vanja Alač.
The young actress, who graduated in acting in the class of Professor Velimir Blanić, emphasized that it was important for her to differentiate the characters as much as possible and to present to the audience their relationships with Odysseus, one of the most famous mythological heroes in the history of civilization.
- It was important for me that the characters differ from one another as much as possible and that I present their relationships with Odysseus to the audience as clearly as possible. I have only words of praise for the process itself. It was engaging and filled with a good working atmosphere. The process was divided into several phases, which was possible thanks to the time we had. It lasted between three and four months, allowing us to work on various aspects. The phases ranged from research, through improvisation, to creating and retaining elements that would best tell the story envisioned by the director and the creative team.
GLAS: Working with such a text, motifs, and themes that run through this piece is a dream for every young actor. Now that you look back on the entire process, can you single out moments when it was difficult, yet you ultimately came out as a winner?
VOKIĆ: Every process has difficult moments, and they are usually tied to creative crises. Creating a play is a collective act in which, when the atmosphere is healthy, we encourage and support one another. “Coming out as a winner” sounds rather grand compared to the difficulties that arise during the creation of a play.
I hope that my colleagues and I have managed to present the story of the creation of a hero — that is, the myth about him — in an honorable and creative way. That would be the greatest victory.
GLAS: Considering that this is your first collaboration with director Alač, could you briefly describe the actor–director relationship? What are the advantages of working with him?
VOKIĆ: The actor–director relationship was built on respect and mutual trust. When complete trust is established, that is when play begins. Ivan Vanja Alač prefers to create in a calm working atmosphere without tension. That is truly an advantage, as it encourages you to work and to be free in offering suggestions and exchanging ideas. He is exactly the type of director who likes to see and hear actors’ proposals and then create the story together. In this process, dramaturg Divna Stojanov, who wrote the text, played a significant role, as did actor Teodor Vinčić, who was in charge of stage movement and helped us greatly adapt to such a physically demanding staging.
GLAS: One of the key lines in the play says, “This is not our story.” Can new generations truly break with the myths and misconceptions of our parents in order to create a world ruled by wisdom rather than war and violence?
VOKIĆ: I believe that new generations can break with the myths and misconceptions of our parents. In my opinion, we need to be aware of the power of choice. We know about many bad things that happened in the past, so why would we repeat the same mistakes? We do not have to experience those mistakes ourselves in order to understand that war and violence do not solve problems — they create new ones and new innocent victims.
GLAS: At the Bijeljina theatre, you also perform in the acclaimed play The Singing and Silence of Sofka Nikolić, directed by Sonja Petrović. You play a very interesting role — Mariola. Tell us more about this project and how challenging it was, from an acting perspective, to deal with the genre of a musical.
VOKIĆ: I am very happy to be part of that play. I was not there from the beginning of the process but joined as an understudy. I tried to build the character of Mariola in my own way, while at the same time not disrupting the performance of my colleagues and everything they had created with the director. I stepped in after just a few rehearsals, and that transition was successful thanks to the well-coordinated Bijeljina ensemble and the wonderful Bojana Milanović, whose partner work and generosity made that short process much easier for me.
GLAS: During your studies, you had the opportunity to perform on the stage of the national theatre in the play Dangerous Liaisons. What impressions do you carry from that experience?
VOKIĆ: That was my first professional experience, and I remember it fondly. I played the role of Cécile de Volanges. At the time, I was a third-year student and wanted to give more than my maximum. I met wonderful colleagues, and I would love to share the stage with them again in the future.
GLAS: You have had an interesting life and career path — from Kozarska Dubica, through Banja Luka, to Bijeljina — with various plays such as Dangerous Liaisons, Our Class, The Evil Woman, The Singing and Silence of Sofka Nikolić, directed by Sonja Petrović, as well as television sets. Although you are still a young artist, how do you see that journey, and were there ever doubts about your career choice?
VOKIĆ: I am grateful for the acting path I have had so far, but I do not look back much because it is still relatively short. I want to travel many more artistic miles ahead of me. With effort, work, faith, and love, I move forward toward new acting challenges.
GLAS: What does everyday life look like for Milica Vokić when she is not under the theatre spotlight?
VOKIĆ: Like everyone else’s. My partner, who is also an actor, and I are building our future. We have a small dog who brings us love and joy every day, and a family where we are always there for one another.
GLAS: Finally, can you reveal any new plans when it comes to your artistic work?
VOKIĆ: Well… many of us in the artistic world are a bit superstitious, so… better not to jinx it. (Laughs)
GLAS: You have also worked on television sets, including in a foreign production (with a strong Serb presence in the creative team), the science-fiction series Ark, where you play the role of Selma. What does such a high-level production offer our actors, and what can they offer in return?
VOKIĆ: A production of that kind creates large-scale projects at a very high professional level. Everything is organized in advance, which makes the acting work much easier. Our actors have a lot to offer, and their level is in no way inferior to that of foreign actors. It was a pleasure to collaborate with both the international and domestic parts of the crew. I hope to have the opportunity to work on similar projects again — it is a very important professional experience.
Source: Glas Srpske
