Premiere: The Carpet of The Big Lebowski with Stefan Gjorgchev as Donny

Alternative Theatre Probaton brings a new stage adaptation titled The Carpet of The Big Lebowski, directed by Gjorgji Rizeski, which reinterprets the Coen brothers’ film as a theatrical satire of contemporary absurdity. At the centre of the production is Stefan Gjorgchev, who combines producing, technical direction and the role of Donny in the same company-made effort.

Production by a small team, big ambitions

Gjorgchev says the show is the result of a collaborative idea shared with actor Milorad Angelov and director Gjorgji Rizeski, but he also admits the dual responsibility is never easy. "To be honest, that balance is rarely perfect. The producer must clearly convey the idea to the director — in our case that idea is not only mine but shared with actor Milorad Angelov and the director — must unite the team and create an atmosphere in which everyone feels comfortable, while not losing discipline. That is why sometimes I resemble Walter more than Donny."

He draws a distinction between the demands of acting and producing: one requires restraint while the other requires asking for more. Gjorgchev describes the company as "a team that breathes together," and says everyone has put in their best to bring the project to the Macedonian stage.

Financially the production relies primarily on its audience and socially responsible partners — the Institute for Culture at the International Slavic University, the university itself, Kinoversum and others — rather than institutional subsidies. "We are supported first by the audience, and then by socially responsible partners," he says. "I believe alternative theatre should not seek support from public institutions — alternative is alternative precisely because it has its own sources and its own way of surviving. That's why, with my team we always manage on our own. Wherever we guest, we do not want to be exempt from anything; we responsibly pay for the halls we use. We are supported by socially responsible companies and citizens, our audience."

Gjorgchev explains he would consider applying to the Ministry of Culture only for a proven production, for example to fund ten free performances in rural communities to cover travel and fees — a project he says he would even do for free. He regrets that cultural life has been neglected since independence and that in many smaller towns a play rarely reaches more than ten performances.

On top of his producing duties, Gjorgchev designed the initial sketches and scenography. The set was made to be transportable and multifunctional so the company can tour: "We are an alternative theatre from a small town where there are no conditions for many performances, so touring is the only way for a play to live longer and reach more people, and scenography has to fit into a van or a small trailer. Hence the need for it to be multifunctional, a living set." He credits Viking Mebel for the CNC cutting and technical execution and names Ivan Gichev as the technician running sound and lights during performances.

Gjorgchev hopes the premiere in Sveti Nikole and the subsequent guest performance in Shtip will mark a high point for their production. "I expect this to be the best project of our production so far. It will not be easy to tour because we are six actors and the costs per performance are significant. As a producer, I ask nothing for myself. It is enough for me to break even, or even to be slightly negative. I experience theatre as a passion," he says, and adds that he hopes the premiere will help bring the audience back to the halls and restore some of theatre's vanished appeal.

Photo: press material from the event