Branislav Đaković plays the Man from Brief Encounter, one of the short plays in Happy Hour – four short comedies. He tells us a little bit about how he and his character differ:

"Did you ever want to meet your favourite artist? The MAN from the play was thrilled when he met his favourite writer, but came to realise that it was not the best idea that he’d had in his life. I am completely juxtaposed with him, and although I’ve met some of my favourite musicians, writers and other kind of artists, I never had the courage (or curiosity) to bother them or to openly admire and praise them, because I was maybe afraid that I would be disappointed... (Although my children love it when they meet their favourite famous persons, and they take photos with them and show their excitement)... Or maybe I’m just jealous because I’m not famous?

I finished drama academy in Belgrade for theater and radio directing, directed several radio and theater plays and performances in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also played in several... and once, when some unknown child approached me on the street and said that I was great in the children’s play, I felt like I‘d won the prestigious actors award...

I was raised on good English humor (Ealing comedies, Monty Python, Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder)… and for me the opportunity to act in English in a good English play is more than a reward. But if you like it and meet me on the street, feel free to bother me, I hope I will not disappoint you."

Photo: Anni Taponen