In the Belly of the Whale: On the Fate of Migrants Amid Personal and Collective Tragedies

A co-production of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc Rijeka and the National Theatre of Tunisia

As part of the Deconfining project, the co-production “In the Belly of the Whale” premiered at the National Theatre of Tunisia in Tunis on 24 January 2025, followed by two additional performances in the next days. After its Tunis debut, the play had its European premiere at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka, Croatia on 3 March 2025, with a replay on 4 March. Building on this momentum, the production continued its tour to Lithuania, where it was presented at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre on 8 October 2025. Its next stop is the 26th edition of the Carthage Theatre Days, where it is scheduled to be performed on 23 November 2025.

Written and directed by Marwa Manai, the play unites artists from Tunisia and Croatia in a profound reflection on migration, identity, and belonging. Developed from short stories by authors Iva Papić, Dorotea Šušak, Samia El Amami, and Mouna Ben Haj Zekri, the play examines overcoming limits, freedom and migration through deeply personal narratives.

Directed by Marwa Manai from Tunisia, the performance was created in collaboration with dramaturge Maja Ležaić, costume designer Sandra Dekanić, and set designer Alan Vukelić from Rijeka. The cast brought together Croatian and Tunisian actors: Serena Ferraiuolo, Mario Jovev, Edi Ćelić, Sonia Zarg Ayouna, Nadia Belhaj, Thaweb Idoudi, Allem Barakat and Anis Kammoun, exploring themes of displacement and human connection.

According to Dubravka Vrgoč, General Manager of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc Rijeka: “The performance reflects the signs of our tragic time — one in which we fail to understand each other and to establish cultural dialogue.”

The production received widespread acclaim. Critics praised the production as “a cry for shared humanity and a call to overcome both physical and mental borders.”

“Yesterday, today, and tomorrow are united by eternity. Throughout history, humankind has striven to overcome barriers — digging tunnels, building bridges, constructing ships and airplanes. Humanity even freed itself from Earth’s gravity to venture into space. Yet one barrier still remains, fragile and invisible, hanging by a thread.”