The Most Forgotten Village in Albania by the Aleksander Moisiu Theatre of Durrës

A Major Victory at the National Comedy Festival
By Bujar Qesja
Emeritus Master

The National Comedy Festival “Koko Fest,” held for seven consecutive nights on the stage of the “Andon Zako Çajupi” Theatre in Korça, concluded with a major victory for the troupe of the “Aleksandër Moisiu” Theatre of Durrës.

The comedy “The Most Lost Place in Albania”, a sharp text by French playwright Jean-Pierre Martinez, masterfully translated by Anxhela Çikopano, was staged under the bold and visionary direction of Andia Xhunga, winning several of the festival’s most important awards.

The list of awards speaks for itself and for the exceptional success:

• Best Show

• Audience Award

• Best Director – Andia Xhunga

• Best Leading Actor – Gentian Zenelaj

• Best Young Actor – Alex Seitaj

This is a complete triumph, which not only honours the theatre of Durrës but also proves that Albanian art, when worked with love and professionalism, can reach the highest peaks and keep alive the purest emotions of the audience.

The Weight of Success

This is not just about collecting prizes. It is about the work of an entire troupe, a collective effort in which each actor gave their soul and energy to build comic tableaux imbued with deep social nuances. Gentian Zenelaj, in the leading role, stood out for the naturalness and strength of his interpretation, carrying the weight of the play on his shoulders. Alex Seitaj, as a young actor, showed that the next generation of Durrës’s stage has all the potential to be worthy and promising.

The contributions of Romir Zalla, Mimoza Marjanaku, Ervin Doko, Amos Zaharia, Alesia Xhemalaj, Adelina Muça, Xhejn Famë and Jaho Guma were equally valuable in creating a harmonious ensemble, where comedy was not treated as a light joke but as an art form requiring precision, rhythm, and human sensitivity.

The scenography and costumes, created by Alketa Tragaj Myshketa, brought the right visual language, giving the performance an aesthetic dimension and making it more tangible for the audience.

What This Victory Means

The victory of the “Moisiu” in Korça is more than an artistic achievement. It is a message for Albanian theatre: passion, dedication and tireless work can be rewarded not only with prizes but above all with the love of the audience. The Audience Award is perhaps the most important, because it proves that art lives precisely in the hearts of its viewers.

At a time when art often faces financial, logistical, and social challenges, such a success demonstrates that theatre remains one of the strongest pillars of cultural and civic identity. Durrës, the city of the sea and of the stage, of beautiful words and of eternal art, raised its flag high even in hospitable Korça, showing that the legacy of “Moisiu” is alive and inspiring.

A New Chapter

This success is a new chapter in the history of the “Aleksandër Moisiu” Theatre. It is not only the result of a successful performance but also an incentive for new projects, artistic courage, and a deepening of the bond with the audience. Korça gave its verdict, the jury recognised the achievement, the spectators applauded and, above all, art triumphed.

Congratulations to the entire troupe of actors, the director, the technical and creative staff. This triumph belongs not only to Durrës but to the entire Albanian comedy stage.

Bujar Qesja is a cultural figurehead of Durrës: a respected journalist, an experienced cultural manager (former director of the “Aleksandër Moisiu” Theatre, the library, the museums and a local orchestra in Durrës between 2002 and 2005), and a writer committed to the collective memory of his city.