Belgrade Hosts Regional Theater Festival Celebrating Unity in Art

The Regional Union of Theater (RUTA) opened its seventh traveling festival at the Belgrade Drama Theatre (BDP) on December 1, 2023. The festival commenced with the comedy “Life of Provincial Playboys After World War II,” written by Dušan Jovanović and directed by Ivan Penović. Running until December 6, the festival features performances from various theatre members across the region, including cities such as Sarajevo, Skopje, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Tivat.

The opening ceremony highlighted the festival’s mission to bring people together through the celebration of theatrical art, regardless of their backgrounds. Dušan Kovačević, a member of the RUTA Board and an actor from Montenegro, emphasized the festival’s purpose, stating, “We do not see who belongs to which faith or nation; we have gathered to celebrate theatrical art.”

The festival’s program includes a diverse range of performances that aim to explore contemporary themes. On the first night, the Sarajevo War Theatre (SARTR) presented “Podroom,” a play by Armin Behram, directed by Ajla Bešić. This piece delves into love, fear, and the fragility of modern relationships.

On December 3, the Drama Theatre of Skopje will showcase “Shots on Broadway,” adapted from a screenplay by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath. Directed by Nenad Vitanov, the play examines the moral dilemmas faced by a young artist willing to compromise everything for their craft.

The following day, on December 4, the collective Igralke and Kazalište Ulysses from Zagreb will present “Mothers,” directed by Rajna Rac. This performance tackles the topic of motherhood from the perspective of the first generation of women who truly have the freedom to choose.

On December 5, the City Theatre of Ljubljana will perform “Three Million Minutes,” an adaptation of the play “70 Years.” This version shifts the focus to six women, contrasting the original, which predominantly featured male characters.

The festival will conclude on December 6 with “Contra Mundum,” produced by the Centre for Culture from Tivat and directed by Veljko Mićunović. The play features Ozren Grabarić in the role of Salvador Dalí, presented not as a biographical portrait but as a dialogue exploring art, eccentricity, and personal mythology.

In addition to these performances, the program from December 2 to 5 includes four monodramas on the small stage of BDP: “Milunka” (Serbia) by Vesna Stanković, “Karmen” (North Macedonia) by Biljana Dragićević-Projkovska, “Virdžina” (Montenegro) by Marta Ćeranić, and “Mortally Serious” (Slovenia) by Boris Ostana.

This year’s festival not only showcases regional talent but also serves as a vital platform for cultural exchange and community building.