# Alenka Pirjevec

Alenka Pirjevec is a puppeteer, theatre director and actress from Slovenia.

## Early life and education

Alenka Pirjevec was born on 5 July 1945 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Slovenian partisan, literary historian and philosopher Dušan Pirjevec and his wife, partisan co-fighter and university professor of the French language, Marjeta Vasič.
She attended primary school and classical gymnasium in Ljubljana where she graduated in 1964 and enrolled in the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television (AGRFT) in the department for play and theatre in 1965, where she finished three years and transferred for the fourth year to the Academy of Theatre in Belgrade and graduated with a diploma in 1969.

## Career

She continued living in Belgrade working part-time as an actress in the national theatre while also working as a translator from Slovene to Serbo-Croatian until 1973 when she returned to Ljubljana.
Upon return, she started working in the Puppet Theatre of Ljubljana in 1975 as actress and animator where she still works at (as of 2020). She held the position of artistic director in the seasons 1987/88 and 1988/89.
Falling in love with puppets she asked her senior to teach her animating puppets and performing with them. In spring of 1984, Alenka received a scholarship of the theatre and attended a six-week course named "Théâtre d'objets" under the guidance of Josef Krofta in the Institut International de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mézières, France.
In the season 1991/92 she received a scholarship from the ministry of culture in Slovenia and attended the international specialised course in technology of puppet creation in the National School Supérieure Des Arts De La Marionnette (ESNAM) in Charleville-Mézières, France.
In October 2020 she completed her master's degree at AGRFT titled "The Invisible Space between Puppet and Puppeteer" and has since been working in the following departments: drama play and puppet animation, puppet directing, puppet dramaturgy, teaching puppet animation, artistic design of the puppet show, production of puppets including sculptural work from various materials (wood, polyester resin, styrofoam, foam rubber), sewing, crocheting, knitting, bobbin-making.
Roles in puppet theatre :
| Year | Title | Theatre | Role | Character/-s |
| 2017 | Prva ljubezen | ŠKUC Gledališče | direction, stage performance, dramaturgy, production of puppets, stage design | |
| 2016 | Luna | Mestno gledališče Ptuj | puppeteer, production of puppets, props and scenes | |
| 2013 | Pazi, Pika | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana, Gledališče Koper | puppeteer | Teta Betka |
| 2013 | Sovji Grad | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Franz Pozzi, Milan Klemenčič |
| 2011 | Dvojčka in vrag | ŠKUC gledališče | puppeteer, production of puppets | René Fernández Santana |
| 2010 | Male Živali | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Čistilka Violenca Žarek |
| 2009 | Burka o jezičnem dohtarju | Lutkovno gledališče Jože Pengov | puppeteer, adaptation of puppets | Ovčar, Sodnik, Dohtarjeva žena |
| 2008 | Narcis in Eho | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Zbor |
| 2008 | Srečna srečka | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Matija, Poglavar podgan, Podgana |
| 2008 | Krst pri Savici (Krst pri Savici) | Gledališče GLEJ | direction, dramaturgy, puppeteer | Pater Hieronim, Bogomila |
| 2008 | Krst pri Savici (Krst pri Savici) | Gledališče GLEJ, Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | direction, dramaturgy, art design, puppeteer, mentor of puppet animation, production of puppets and scenes | Pater Hieronim, Bogomila |
| 2007 | Čarovnička | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer, animation of other various puppets and objects | Mikša, Turisti |
| 2007 | Recital Prešernove poezije (France Prešeren) | extra-institutional projects | master of ceremonies | |
| 2006 | Goske | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | direction, dramaturgy, art design, production of puppets and scenes, puppet animation assistance | |
| 2005 | Doktor Faust (Doctor Faustus) | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | mentor of puppet animation, puppeteer | Doktor Faust, profesor v Wittenbergu, Gašperček, Karon, čolnar, Viclipucli, Lepa Helena |
| 2004 | Svinjski pastir (The Swineherd) | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Prva dvorna dama |
| 2003 | Doktor Faust (Doctor Faustus) | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | mentor for animation of puppets, puppeteer | Doktor Faust, Pluton, Viclipucli |
| 2003 | Perzej | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Mama, Perzefona, kraljica Hada, 3 Graje, sestre starke |
| 2003 | Slovenski dramski umetniki meščanom Ljubljane | extra-institutional projects | puppeteer | |
| 2002 | Veveriček posebne sorte | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Veverica Replja, teta |
| 2000 | Očka, kje stanuje miklavž? | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Lisica Zvitorepka, Muca copatarica, Deklica Medvedek, Tri deklice, Zahodna vešča, Parkeljc |
| 2000 | Viteški turnir v Šiški | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Rihard Levjesrčni |
| 1999 | Joža | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Lastnica |
| 1998 | Krava v Cirkusu | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Klovn, Mali klovn, leteče žabe, glasbeni inštrumenti in različni predmeti |
| 1998 | Namišljeni bolnik | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Béline, Arganova druga žena |
| 1997 | Črne maske | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Lorenzo, Prva maska, Petruccio |
| 1996 | Mala Lili | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Fant, Papagaj Pago, Papagaj 2 |
| 1996 | Zimska pravljica | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Lisica, Maček |
| 1995 | Kače | extra-institutional projects, multimedia project | | |
| 1994 | Cirkus Cigumigus | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Koza Piruetka, Mačka Žvrgolinka, Veliki klovn, Lev Leopold |
| 1994 | Pepelka (Cindarella) | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer, production of puppets | Pepelkina mama, Prva sestra, Otroci, konj, metulji, ptice, drevo, cvetice |
| 1993 | Hudobni Graščak | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Pavliha |
| 1992 | Hudič in pastir | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Pastir, Lucifer |
| 1992 | Trnuljčica (Sleeping Beauty) | Cankarjev dom v Ljubljani | puppeteer | |
| 1992 | Slavec | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Mala kuharica, Glasbenica, Plesalka, Pahljačar |
| 1991 | Tramvajčica | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Begajček, Mora Shrhljivka, Paralonca |
| 1991 | Nekoč je bil kos lesa | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | direction, puppeteer | |
| 1990 | Kronan Norec | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Sova, Kačja kraljica, Kraljica mravelj |
| 1990 | Svoji grad | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Tajni svetnik Kratohvil, Cmokavzar, Lakaja in pes |
| 1990 | Mojca in živali | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Medved |
| 1989 | Zgodba južnega gozda ali kdo je ubil sonce | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Vedomec, Dubata, prvi Sončev sin |
| 1989 | Korenčkov palček | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Korenček |
| 1989 | Rigorka, zvezda z neba | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Angel - Štirje angeli |
| 1987 | Lizistrata | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Voditeljica žen - Kinesias |
| 1987 | Snežna kraljica | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Babica, Snežna kraljica, Starka, Razbojnikova žena, Golob |
| 1986 | Če zmaj požre mamo | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Pikec |
| 1986 | Mrtvec pride po ljubico | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Anzel, Mrtva Mlinarica |
| 1986 | Čudežni prstan | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Mira - kraljica Mira |
| 1985 | Pravljica o carju Saltanu | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Carica, Babaruha |
| 1985 | Zvezdica zaspanka | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | 3. zvezda, Papiga |
| 1984 | Peter pan v Kensingtonskem parku | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Ptice, škrati, vile, drevesa, cvetlice |
| 1984 | Smešno za zjokat | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Kraljica Oglate dežele |
| 1983 | Igra o letu | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana, Cankarjev dom | puppeteer | Zvončnica, Gorska vila, Pehtra |
| 1983 | O ptički, ki je ukradla zlato jabolko | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Svetloba sredi noči |
| 1983 | Hiša | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Mačka |
| 1982 | Sanje o govoreči češnji | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Mačka, ki ribe žgačka |
| 1982 | Vrtec pri stari kozi | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Koza |
| 1980 | Guignol v težavah | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Sodnik |
| 1980 | Medvedek Pu (Winnie the Pooh) | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Teta, Sova |
| 1979 | Mali Princ | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Mali princ |
| 1979 | Jakec in njegov stric hladilnik | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Teta Miša |
| 1978 | Zgodba o Ferdinandu | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Čmrlj, Plesalka |
| 1978 | Gugalnica | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Ptice |
| 1978 | Resnična pravljica | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | |
| 1977 | Kljukčeva predstava | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | |
| 1977 | Živi na soncu mož | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Zla pošast, ki je vklenila Dobrega moža |
| 1976 | Beli konjič | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Karlinca, Tina |
| 1976 | Že že, kaj pa poklic? | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Kraljica Lenivijeva |
| 1975 | Hiša tete Barbare | Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana | puppeteer | Teta Barbara |
Roles in theatre and other production :
| Year | Title | outlet | Role | Character |
| 2007 | Doktor Faust | radio | voice actress | Gašperček |
| 2002 | Nevidni prostor med igralcem in lutko | theatre | actress | |
| 1991 | Lutkovno gledališče / Portret Milana Klemenčiča | TV | actress | |
| 1984 | Obuti maček | theatre | actress, reciter | Obuti maček |
| 1974 | Bakhantke / Bakhai | theatrical performance, AGRFT | actress | Zbor |
| 1974 | Exitus | short film, AGRFT | actress | |
| 1968 | Improvizacija v Versillesu | theatrical performance, AGRFT (3rd year) | actress | Ga. du Parcova |
| 1968 | Romeo in Julija | theatrical performance, AGRFT (3rd year) | actress | Capuletova |
| 1968 | Lizistrata / Lysistrate | theatrical performance, AGRFT (3rd year) | actress | Zbor žena, žena - zasdeba A, Lizistrata - zasedba B |
| 1968 | Variacije | short film, AGRFT | actress | |
| 1968 | Cele dneve v krošnjah dreves | SNG Drama Ljubljana | actress | Gostje v baru |
| 1967 | Pokopljite mrtve / Bury the Dead | theatrical performance, AGRFT (2nd year) | actress | Katharina Driscolova |
| 1967 | Don Carlos | theatrical performance, AGRFT (2nd year) | actress | Eboli |
| 1967 | Čas in Conwayevi / Time and the Conways | theatrical performance, AGRFT (2nd year) | actress | Gospa Conway |
| 1966 | Spalnik Hiawatha / Pullman Car Hiawatha | theatrical performance, AGRFT (2nd year) | actress | 12. ura - slušateljica 1. semestra |