Skopje, 19 October 2025 (MIA) — The Zagreb theater Žar ptica has won the Grand Prix of the 4th Igor Madzhirov International Children's Theater Festival, held at the Skopje Theater for Children and Youth on Oct. 15-18, for its "Little Frieda" play about "a frendship that makes us better people, decisiveness that makes us fearless and imagination that makes anything possible," according to the play's authors.

Written by Anica Tomić i Jelena Kovačić, the play was inspired by the childhood of Mexican painter Frieda Kahlo, who contracted polio when she was six years old "and felt what it meant to be different, even as a little girl."

"The play is warm, witty and with its visually lush scenography and costumes, it tells the story of the difficulties of little Frida Kahlo, speaking to children in a clear and engaging way about diversity and acceptance," the festival's panel of judges said when awarding the Grand Prix.

The panel consisted of Croatian theater expert Igor Tretinjak and actresses Izabela Novotni and Julijana Mirchevska. 

"Little Frieda" was chosen as the best play at the festival also by a children's panel of judges, consisting of Bisera Mojanoska, Vedran Marichikj, Una Dona Siljanovska, Teofil Sachkarski, Sasha Dimitrevska, Sofija Petrusheva and Ioannis Dalagiorgos.

The festival's best director award went to David Zuazola for "The Window" performed Romania's Merlin theater for children. The best actress award went to Amanda Prenkaj for playing the lead in "Little Frieda." The best actor award went to Thanos Sioris for "Blue," produced by Hop Signor puppet theater from Athens, Greece.

"Little Frieda" costume designer Doris Kristić and set designer Igor Vasiljev won the best costume design and best set design awards. mr/