Ferdinand Hysi, a playwright, was born in Berat. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Tirana in 1975. He worked as an engineer at Post-Telekom, Vlorë (1975–1979 and 1992–1997), at the Youth Committee (1979–1984), as a teacher at the industrial secondary school (1984 -1988), a librettist at the Vlora Theater (1988-1992), and as an external lecturer at the University of Vlora. His first work, “Rruga Budi 723” (“Budi Street 723”), was staged by the director Nazmi Bunjaku in 1978. In the National Literary Competition in 1993, his play “Tre Mendje ne Ankand” (“Three Minds at Auction”) received the second prize. At the National Festival of Theaters held in Tirana in 1994, the performance of this play by the “Petro Marko” Theater in Vlora was rated the best. Additionally, in 1997, at a competition organized by the Drama Committee for the Balkan countries, based in Paris, the drama won second prize. Through a parable in which the subject, events, and characters are transformed into clear and pure symbolism, Hysi captures the state of social and political chaos in the country, the despair and misery of abandoned people, and expresses irony and sarcasm towards the indifferent attitudes of foreigners and their so-called “humanitarian aid”. Ferdinand Hysi is known for his modern and contemporary style, often incorporating surreal elements, and placing events in fictional realities with a strong presence of conventions. The conventional nature, fictitious reality, allegory, and symbolism often form the structure of his plays. Symbolic overlays, the “schematization” of characters’ goals, synthesizing power, and the creation of comprehensive metaphors constitute manifest qualities of his work. Ferdinand Hysi possesses a fertile imagination and fantasy, which he uses to populate his dramaturgical reality with innovative scenes, characters and original and surprising solutions. He is economical with words and laconic in his dialogue, crafting beautiful, flowing exchanges rich with insight, innuendo, wise thoughts, irony, moral or philosophical reflections, and popular expressions. His work is distinguished for its subtle, intelligent humor, which often arises more from paradoxical situations than from the characters themselves. (In the photo: Ferdinand Hysi)
Text: Josif Papagjoni
Photo: © https://sot.com.al/english/kultura/ferdinand-hysi-tri-mendje-ne-ankand-pavaresisht-kohes-qe-eshte-shkruar-e-i444414
Graphic processing: AHCF
