The competitive programme of the 28th Theater Fest “Petar Kočić” at the National Theatre of Republika Srpska will begin on June 4 with the official opening ceremony and the first competition performance, “The Singing and Silence of Sofka Nikolić”, produced by the City Theatre “Semberija” from Bijeljina.
Tickets for all performances have already sold out. In the following days, audiences will also have the opportunity to watch the remaining competition productions: “The Game” by Boško Buha Theatre, “Una” by Zvezdara Theatre, “Bollywood” by City Theatre Podgorica, “Lady Nola” by the Serbian National Theatre, and “Safe House” by Gavella Drama Theatre from Zagreb. The festival will conclude with the host theatre’s production of “Martin Udio”, performed in honour of the award winners.
The accompanying programme began earlier through the initiative “The National Theatre with the People”, which includes three theatres performing five productions in 13 local communities across Republika Srpska.
The production “The House” has already been staged in Mrkonjić Grad, Kostajnica, Zvornik and Bratunac, while performances in Bileća, Gacko and Nevesinje are scheduled for the second half of June. Zvezdara Theatre’s production “Una” will be presented in Trebinje and East Sarajevo, while audiences in Derventa, Gradiška and Milići will enjoy children’s performances including “A Journey Around the World on a Scooter”, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and “The Three Little Pigs and One More”, performed by City Theatre Jazavac from Banja Luka.
This year’s festival will also feature the exhibition “The Space of Play”, dedicated to scenographer Dragana Purković Macan. The exhibition will open on June 3 at 7 p.m. in the foyer of the National Theatre of Republika Srpska and marks 25 years of her artistic work, during which she created 108 theatre scenographies.
On June 5, the festival programme includes a screening of the documentary “Everything About the King Named Petar”, directed by Anita Panić. Following the screening, a discussion will be held with the author, director Milica Kralj, daughter of the late actor Petar Kralj, and actor Aleksandar Stojković Piksi, one of Kralj’s former students.
A special tribute titled “An Evening Dedicated to Slavko Milanović” will be held on June 7, celebrating the life and artistic legacy of the distinguished playwright. Participants will include Molina Udovički Fotez, former artistic director of the National Theatre in Belgrade, director and professor Željko Đukić, and Ljubiša Savanović, artistic director of the National Theatre of Republika Srpska.
The festival also announced a special outdoor performance of the world-famous musical “Mamma Mia!” at Kastel Fortress on June 17. Produced by Terazije Theatre and PROSPOT, the musical will begin at 9 p.m. and run for two hours and forty minutes. Based on the legendary songs of the Swedish group ABBA, “Mamma Mia!” premiered in London in 1999 and has since become one of the most successful musicals in theatre history.
Another highlight of the accompanying programme will be the performance “Semper Idem” by the National Theatre of Sombor, scheduled for June 20. Based on the acclaimed novel by Đorđe Lebović and directed by Gorčin Stojanović, the production explores the author’s childhood in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on the eve of the Second World War.
With a sold-out competition programme, renowned regional productions, exhibitions, film screenings, discussions and internationally acclaimed theatre performances, the 28th Theater Fest “Petar Kočić” promises to be one of the most significant cultural events of the year in Republika Srpska.
Source: RTRS
