Scenography for The General of the Dead Army

Albanian National Theatre – 1971

Author: Ismail Kadare
Director: Pirro Mani
Scenography: Agim Zajmi
Medium: Tempera on canvas
Dimensions: 40 × 60 cm
Collection: National Gallery of Arts of Albania
Distinction: First Prize, Kragujevac Theatre Festival (Yugoslav National Theatre Competition), 1976

Originally staged at the Albanian National Theatre in Tirana in 1971, The General of the Dead Army, adapted from the novel by Ismail Kadare, marked a defining collaboration between director Pirro Mani and scenographer Agim Zajmi. The production quickly became a landmark in the history of modern Albanian theatre.

Zajmi’s scenography translates the psychological weight of Kadare’s narrative into a stark and symbolic stage environment. Dominated by a vast red vortex-like backdrop and reduced sculptural forms, the composition evokes mud, rain, isolation, and the burden of memory that define the drama. The spatial minimalism intensifies the existential tension between the characters, transforming the stage into a metaphysical landscape rather than a literal setting.

Awarded First Prize at the 1976 Kragujevac Theatre Festival, this work consolidated Zajmi’s international reputation and stands today as a major example of modern Albanian scenography. Preserved in the National Gallery of Arts of Albania, it remains a cornerstone in the visual history of Albanian stage design.