Jeton Neziraj


Jeton Neziraj is a playwright from Kosovo. He was the Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Kosovo and now he is the Director of Qendra Multimedia, a cultural production company based in Prishtina.
WWW jetonneziraj.com

Background

Neziraj has written over 25 plays that have been staged and performed in Europe as well as in the USA. His plays and his writings have been translated and published in more than 20 languages, such as: German, English, French, Italian, Slovak, Macedonian, Iranian, Slovenian, Croatian, Romanian, Bosnian, Spanish, Turkish, Bulgarian, Serbian, Greek etc.
As a playwright, he has worked and had his plays shown in various theatres, including La MaMa in New York, Berlin, Volkstheater Vienna, Piccolo Teatro di Milano, Vidy Theater in Lausanne, National Theater of Kosovo, City Garage Theater in Los Angeles, National Theater of Montenegro, Turkish National Theater, etc.
"The plays of Jeton Neziraj are raucous, irreverent and absurdist. They invoke Ibsen, Molière and Kafka...”, The Guardian wrote about his work. While the German theatre magazine Theater der Zeit and the German Radio Deutschlandfunk Kultur have described him as ‘Kafka of the Balkans’. Los Angeles Times called him “a world- class playwright who challenges our complacency at every twist and turn”.
Neziraj is the author of many articles on cultural and political issues, published in local and international magazines and journals. He is also the author of various books, including a book on the famous Kosovar actor Faruk Begolli. Neziraj is the founder and the director of Qendra Multimedia, a cultural production company based in Pristina. He was also Professor of Dramaturgy at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Pristina during the year 2007–2008. He has given speeches and has run theater workshops at several festivals, conferences and universities throughout the world.
He is member of the European Cultural Parliament and Kosovo coordinator of the EURODRAM network. He was board member of Dokufest, and Kosovo patron for the New Plays from Europe Festival in Wiesbaden.

Awards

  • With his play Lisa is Sleeping he won the first prize at Buzuku competition for the best Albanian Play in 2006.
  • He is the 2011 winner of the INPO prize for Accelerating the debate.
  • His play One Flew Over the Kosovo Theater won the Special Award at the 8th edition of the JoakimInterFest.
  • He won the Best play award in the National Drama Festival in Ferizaj, 2016, for the play A Theater Play with Four Actors....
  • In 2018, the European Union Office in Kosovo awarded him with the award. This award is granted to individuals whose work and achievements have promoted European ideas and values.
  • His play The Windmills was nominated for the German award .
  • Neziraj is the winner of the
  • He is winner of the International Theatremakers Award which is given by Playwrights Realm based in New York.
  • His play The Handke Project won the French theatre award "Journées de Lyon des Auteurs de Théâtre".
  • With his plays he won the award, in 2023 and 2024.

Selected staged plays

2025–2026

  • - Qendra Multimedia, The Market Theatre, São Luiz Teatro Municipal, Teatro Della Pergola, Theater Dortmund, Black Box teater, Mittelfest, Théâtre de la Ville.
  • Fluturimi mbi Teatrin e Kosovës - City Theatre Ferizaj, 2025
  • Prishtina – The Premeditated Killing of a Dream - Qendra multimedia, 2025
  • ΠΤΗΣΗ / ΚΟΣΟΒΟ -, 2025
  • The Handke Project - Norwegian Theatre Academy & Black Box teater / Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival, 2025
  • Ojos de gato - Centro para las Artes TETIEM, 2025

2023–2024

  • Six Against Turkey - Qendra Multimedia & Gerçek Tyiatrosu, 2024
  • The Internationals - Between the Seas: Mediterranean Performance LAB, 2024
  • Bëje ose vdis - Gjakova City Theatre, 2024
  • Balkan Bordello - Uppsala Stadsteaater, 2024
  • War in Times of Love - Bornova Belediyesi Sehir Tiyatrosu, 2024
  • Charles III - Qendra Multimedia, 2024
  • Audience by Vaclav Havel - Tiyatro Teras Oyunculuk Atolye, 2023
  • Negotiating Peace - Qendra Multimedia in association with: Teatro della Pergola ; euro-scene Leipzig ; Prague City Theaters ; R.A.A.A.M ; Mittelfest ; Kontakt ; Black Box Teater and My Balkans, 2023
  • GADJO - Qendra Multimedia and National Experimental Theatre "Kujtim Spahivogli", 2023
  • Peer Gynt from Kosovo - Tetovo City Theatre, 2023
  • One Flew Over the Kosovo Theatre - Kumanovo City Theatre, 2023
  • Audience by Vaclav Havel - National Experimental Theatre "Kujtim Spahivogli", 2023

2021–2022

  • A.P Department - Oyun Atölyesi, Istanbul, Turkey, 2022
  • - Qendra Multimedia in association with Mittelfest & Teatro della Pergola, Theater Dortmund, National Theater Sarajevo & International Theater Festival - Scene MESS, 2022
  • Audience by Vaclav Havel - RAAAM Theatre, 2022
  • Father and Father - Integra, Prishtina, Kosovo, 2022
  • - Qendra Multimedia, Prishtina, Kosovo, 2022
  • Marxists-Leninists of Switzerland - Adriana' City Theatre, Ferizaj, Kosovo, 2022
  • A Play with Four Actors and Some Pigs and Some Cows and Some Horses and a Prime Minister and a Milka Cow and Some Local and International Inspectors -, Lyon - France
  • Balkan Bordello - La MaMa Theatre - New York, in association with Qendra Multimedia - Prishtina and Theater Atelje 212 - Belgrade
  • Audience by Václav Havel -, 2021
  • Yue Madeleine Yue -, Rialto Theatre - Θέατρο Ριάλτο, Limassol, Cyprus, 2021
  • Kosovo for Dummies -, 2021
  • Peer Gynt from Kosovo -, Theatre Skala - ΘΕΑΤΡΟ ΣΚΑΛΑ, Larnaka, Cyprus, 2021

2019–2020

  • - Bosnian National Theater in Zenica, Bosnia and Hercegovina, 2020
  • - Qendra Multimedia, 2020
  • ΠΤΗΣΗ 1702 08 ΚΟΣΣΟΒΟ - Θέατρο Τσέπης, Limassol, Cyprus, 2020 -, Berlin, 2020Swiss Connection - Theater Winkelwiese, Zürich, 2020Şehir Büyüyor -, 2020a.y.l.a.n -, 2019In Five Seasons: An Enemy of the People - Qendra Multimedia, 2019Department of Dreams - City Garage Theatre, Los Angeles The Internationals - Between the Seas Festival and Theaterlab, New York 55 Shades of Gay - La MaMa - New York

2017–2018

Peer Gynt from Kosovo - Turkish State Theater in Istanbul Lisa Is Sleeping Günah Çıkarma - Dina Tyiatro Turkey, 2018The Hypocrites or the English Patient - Qendra Multimedia, 2018Sworn Virgin - forever productions Zurich & Schlachthaus Theater Bern & Theater Winkelwiese Zürich & Kleintheater Luzern & Kellertheater Winterthur The Windmills - CTC - Skopje/Shkup Mbreti Gjumash - City Theater - Kumanovë Patriotic Hypermarket - Théâtre de l’Opprimé // Théâtre national de Syldavie / Maison d’Europe et D’Orient - Paris 55 Shades of Gay - Qendra Multimedia Peer Gynt from Kosovo - Qendra Multimedia The Windmills - Theater Heilbronn Bordel Balkan - National Theater of Kosovo

2015–2016

Carla del Ponte Trinkt in Pristina Einen Vanilla Chai Latte - Jochen Roller, Berlin, & FFT, Düsseldorf & Qendra Multimedia, Prishtina A Play with Four Actors and Some Pigs and Some Cows and Some Horses and a Prime Minister and a Milka Cow and Some Local and International Inspectors - Qendra Multimedia, Prishtina Lisa Is Sleeping - Menfi Tiyatro - Istanbul Yue Madeleine Yue - Tiyatro TEMAS - Istanbul KOSOVO FOR DUMMIES - Schlachthaus Theater Bern, Theater Winkelwiese Zürich, Kleintheater Luzern The Bridge - Spinning Dot Theatre - Michigan War in Times of Love - THÉÂTRE DU GRENIER - Bougival / Compagnie GRAINS DE SCÈNE o.rest.es in Peace - National Theater of Montenegro General of the Dead Army - Istanbul Municipal Theater War in Times of Love - Qendra Multimedia

2013–2014

In Paradise Artists Can Fly - Qendra Multimedia, Prishtina & Pisa, 2014One Flew Over the Kosovo Theater - Istanbul State Theater / 2014A P ДeПartament - Skampa Theater, Elbasan Albania & City Theater, Ferizaj, Kosovo & Skampa International Theater Festival / 2014War in Times of Love - GARE AU THÉÂTRE & TERMOS / 2014Peer Gynt from Kosovo - Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Teater de Vill, Qendra Multimedia / 2014Yue Madeleine Yue - Aatiyatro & BO SAHNE / 2014The Demolition of the Eiffel Tower - Qendra Multimedia / 2013Yue Madeleine Yue – Luzerner Theater - / 2013The Hustler – Qendra Multimedia / 2013The Around The Globe Chain Play - Lark Play Development Center / USA 2013, Bekah Brunstetter, Van Badham, Mixkaela Villalon, Janice Poon, Abdelrahem Alawji, John Freedman, Ulrike Syha, Enver Husicic, Zainabu Jallo, Beatriz Cabur, Sarah Grochala, Sigtryggur Magnason, Noe Morales Munoz and Caridad Svich.

2011–2012

One Flew Over the Kosovo Theater - 2012 - Qendra Multimedia, Pristina / National Theater of Kosovo, Pristina / National Theater of Albania, Tirana / CTC, Skopje / CZKD, BelgradeYue Madeleine Yue - 2012 - Volkstheater -, Qendra Multimedia
  • The Bridge - 2012 - Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden The Demolition of the Eiffel Tower - 2011 - Gerald W. Lynch Theater – The Demolition of the Eiffel Tower –2011 - SARTR Theater - Sarajevo / MESS International Theater Festival – Patriotic Hypermarket – 2011 - Bitef Theater / Kulturanova/ Qendra Multimedia -

2009–2010

War in Times of Love – 2010, Yale Drama Coalition The Demolition of the Eiffel Tower - 2010, Fabrique Ephéméride The Odyssey Project - 2010 -, Sigtryggur Magnason, Joel Horwood, Ozen Yula, Nikolai Khalezin - The Internationalists - The General of the Dead Army - 2010 - –Albanian Theatre – An American Tune – 2009 - National Theatre of Macedonia

2007–2008

Punch and Judy Murder Love – 2008, Theatre of Prizren The Bridge – 2008, Children's Theatre Center The Bridge – 2007, Qendra Multimedia / CCTD Liza is Sleeping – 2007 - National Theatre of Kosovo War in Times of Love – 2008 - Nomad Theatre The Last Supper – 2007 - Qendra Multimedia & Markus Zohner Theatre Company, Madeleine's war – 2007 - Oda Theatre

2005–2006

Aeneas Wounded – 2006, Qendra Multimedia & 2007 Glej Theatre The Subversive Donkey – 2006, National Theatre Speckled Blue Eyes – 2005, Albanian Drama Theatre Le Roi, Le Clown, L`homme au Fouet et le Barbier – 2005, Gare au Theatre The Longest Winter, 2005, CCTD & OMPF

2002–2004

Forbidden Lesson – 2004, CCTD & Dodona Theatre Voyage to Unmikistan 2002, L`espace d'un instant The Well – 2002, City Theater Gjilan

Existing translations of his plays

Negotiating Peace - English, German, Czech, Croatian, Italian, NorwegianGadjo - EnglishThe Handke Project - English, Serbian, Italian, German, French, Slovenian, CzechFather and Father - English, Serbian, Turkish Audience by Václav Havel - English, German, Persian, Croatian, Serbian, Turkish, EstonianThe return of Karl May - English, German, Serbian, French, Romanian, Polish Swiss Connection - German, French, Englisha.y.l.a.n - English, German, FrenchIn Five Seasons: An Enemy of the People - English, German, Turkish, French, SerbianThe Hypocrites or the English Patient - English, German, TurkishWales Gets a King - English, MacedonianSworn Virgin - German, English, Italian, Serbian55 shades of Gay - English, German, Serbian, Hungarian, Macedonian, Slovenian, Polish Department of Dreams - English, Turkish, Dutch The Internationals - English, Greek, GermanA Play with Four Actors and Some Pigs and Some Cows and Some Horses and a Prime Minister and a Milka Cow and Some Local and International Inspectors - English, German, Croatian, Italian, French, FinnishThe Windmills - Albanian, GermanKosovo for Dummies - German, English, Macedonian, PolishBordel Balkan - Montenegrin, English, German, Slovenian, French, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Swedish Peer Gynt from Kosovo - German, English, Serbian, Turkish, Italian, Macedonian, French, Greek One Flew over the Kosovo theater - English, Greek, French, German, Serbian, Turkish, Italian, Slovenian, MacedonianYue Madeleine Yue- German, English, Turkish, Croatian, Greek The Demolition of the Eiffel Tower - Italian, Bosnian, English, French, German, Turkish, Macedonian, Polish, CzechWar in Times of Love - English, German, French, Turkish, Bulgarian, Serbian, Polish, Italian, SpanishIn Paradise Artists can Fly- EnglishAeneas Wounded - Albanian, English, Slovenian, Serbian, Romanian, TurkishThe Hustler - English, Turkish, German
  • “The Bridge” - Albanian, English, German, Bosnian, TurkishPatriotic Hypermarket- Albanian, Serbian, English, French
  • “The General of the Dead Army” - Serbian, TurkishSpeckled Blue Eyes - English, Macedonian, Spanish, TurkishLiza is Sleeping - English, Bulgarian, Turkish, KurdishVoyage to Unmikistan - Albanian, French