On June 25, 2021, the stage reading “Games in the Backyard”, directed by Zana Hoxha, was premiered in the City Park in Prishtina.
The resident troupe of the Artpolis Center performed this work by Edna Mazyas in front of an audience with gender, age, and ethnicity diversity, which welcomed the realization of this work and the topics addressed in it.
Edna Mazya through her work brings us the real story of the rape of a girl by four young people in Israel, in the years 1988-91. In addition, “Games in the Backyard” highlights the deep roots of the patriarchal system in state institutions, which only increases the burden of oppression on women.
The activist, Durim Elshani, regarding this topic said that “it is not natural for a boy to be unemotional, aggressive, violent, and harassing. It is a system of power created with clear norms, and with roles defined according to social constructs, where to be a ‘good, honest and loving’ boy one must be aggressive, provocative, and dominant. That is why the boys during the rape were not afraid of the violence they were causing, because that, within the masculine hegemony, makes you a strong man.”
Author: Edna Mazyac
Directed by: Zana Hoxha
Translator: Artur Lena
Actors: Zhaneta Xhemajli, Mikel Markaj, Edlir Gashi, Ismail Kasumi, Blerta Gubetini and Art Pasha
