On Saturday, 16 December, a performance was made in Banjaluka by Breda and Darko Kočevar from Črnomelj. In cooperation with Association for the Development of Voluntary Work Novo mesto we saw two kamišibaj plays – first for children and second for youth and adults.
The plays were followed by pleasant pre-New Year's event.
Do you know what kamišibaj is? Kamišibaj theatre is a unique form of performing arts. It is a story-telling using pictures. It comes from Japan, where kami means paper, and šibaj theatre. Story-teller stands next to a small stage made of wood and during story-telling changes pictures depicting significant parts in the story.
Each play starts by batting two sticks. Artists from Slovenia prepared a poem by Srečko Kosovel Sončnica na rami for children, as well as a selection of Župančič's Mehurčki and a poem by Roald Dahl Cow. For adults, they added a fairy tale on how brandy had come to Bela Krajina. Nina Gradič Planko, previous teacher of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian, was also present during the plays and brought us a special gift – kamišibaj stage. In Slovenia, kamišibaj is a valuable pedagogical aid and therefore we in Banjaluka also welcomed the stage we would be able to use during supply teaching lessons of Slovenian.
Barbara Hanuš
