Vojdan Chernodrinski (1875-1951)


From: Macedonia - Clasp of the World.

      Vojdan Pop Georgiev-Chernodrinski, was born in 1875 in the village Selce, located half way betwen Struga and Debar. The beginnings of the Macedonian theatre and Macedonian drama literature are connected with the name and the work of Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov - Dzinot, but the Macedonian drama art from that period is mostly connected with the name of Vojdan Pop Georgiev-Chernodrinski.

      Almost each of his screenplays treats the problem of the life and struggle of the Macedonian nation for freedom. Vojdan Chernodrinski encouraged the spirit of the Macedonians and suggested the idea that the time for showdown with the declining Ottoman Empire had come. In fact, that is how he supported the activities and actions undertaken for preparation of a future uprising in Macedonia, making the foreign observers sympathize with the Macedonian nation. Through his work, Chernodrinski and his theatre group, the Young Macedonian Company, carried out an important dramatic and national mission.

      Chernodrinski wrote several plays: "Zlo za zlo" (Evil for Evil) in 1903, The Slave and the agha (1902), "Majstor" (The Cratfsmen), "Od glavata si patime" (From our head we suffer), "Duhot na slobodata" (The spirit of the freedom), "Srekja" (Fortune). His most famous play is the tragedy "Makedonska krvava svadba" (Macedonian bloody Wedding) performed for the first time on the 7th of November 1900 among the Macedonian emigration in Sophia, Bulgaria. This play is still included in the current repertoires of today’s Macedonian theatres. Chernodrinski was also the founder of numerous theatre troupes in the period from 1894 to 1943.


The screenplay of the Macedonian bloody wedding.

A stamp released in 1995 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Chernodrinski's birth.