It’s Only the End of the World

Matija Ferlin’s first close collaboration with the acting ensemble of the Zagreb Youth Theatre (ZKM) promises an intriguing and refreshingly different theatrical experience. In partnership with ZKM, the Istrian National Theatre – Pula City Theatre has produced the first translation into Croatian and premièred It’s Only the End of the World by Jean-Luc Lagarce. Matija Ferlin is award-winning director known for his innovative and non-traditional approach to theatre. Under his direction this project delves into the profound, human themes of Lagarce’s work, which centre on layered family relationships, introspection, and the inevitable confrontation with mortality.

The narrative focuses on Louis, a man who, faced with his own mortality, returns to family home after a prolonged absence. His reunion with his mother, younger sister, brother, and sister-in-law reveals deep emotional wounds, unspoken feelings, and insecurities that lie at the heart of the family’s dynamics. This intense encounter sets off a cascade of emotional trials, conflicts, and attempts at reconciliation, capturing the complexity of human nature and the deep connections that shape familial bonds. Working with a five-member cast from ZKM, Ferlin explores the artistic potential of embodied theatrical expression. His idiosyncratic approach to drama that emphasises physicality and movement brings to life a compelling world in which the characters wrestle with their inner demons of the past and immediate existential challenges. The poetic language of Lagarce’s writing allows the production to draw upon two distinct yet connected elements: body and speech. Built on this dual foundation, It’s Only the End of the World emerges as a richly layered theatrical expression of profound introspection into intimate family encounters.