Premiere of William Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida" - directed by Laurence Chalem and co-produced by the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, the Karuža Theatre and Company 03 from Geneve - was done on the same basis. This was a big theatre spectacle whose main value was a bilingual approach - the meeting of two different cultures and a strongly expressed notion on the absurdity of war. This was an epochal event for Serbian theatre: none of our theaters have ever performed in Geneva for two weeks, on every day of those two weeks - says Milivoje Mlađenović, manager of SNT.

By Vesna Knežević – Baletić
Photo By SNP

The successful 2006/07 season continues, the 146^th in a row, in the oldest professional theatre with Serbs. Last year was marked by successful co-productions and guest performances, and also with an eminent recognition: the audience award at the 40^th Bitef went to "The Language of the Walls" performed by the Serbian National Theatre of Novi Sad.

Milivoje Mlađenović, manager of the Serbian National Theatre, had the following to say about the planned repertoire, the current season, and the theater's active international relationship:

- Three important and constant avenues to realize the mission of the Serbian National Theatre include: the presence of world classics on the repertoire (like our performance of Dostoyevsky's "Uncle's Dream" in the direction of Egon Savin, which according to a majority of critics was the theatre event of 2006!); an emphasis on domestic plays with special attention paid to encouraging contemporary playwrights ("Simeon the Foundling" by Milena Marković, directed last season by Tomi Janežič and "I or Someone Else" by Maja Pelević, directed by Kokan Mlađenović and "The Crime Against the Wild Beasts" by Dušan Spasojević, directed by Boris Liješević this season); and presenting our drama to the world. We strive, as much as possible, to directly participate in the latest theatrical and poetical streams. The Serbian National Theatre attempts to simultaneously realize its mission through its drama, opera and ballet programmes. Last year the opera performed in two extremely successful guest appearances; "Rigoletto"in Cannes, directed by V. Soldatović, and "Resurrection" at the reputable Miskolci Opera Festival, directed by B. Đurović. Ballet will be remembered by performances at the Forum For New Dance - "The Language of the Walls", choreographed by Guy Weizman and Roni Haver, and "The Divine Comedy" choreographed by S. Zurovac.

- Last year's premiere of William Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida" - directed by Laurence Chalem and co-produced by the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, the Karuža Theatre and Company 03 from Geneve - was done on the same basis. This was a big theatre spectacle whose main value was a bilingual approach - the meeting of two different cultures and a strongly expressed notion on the absurdity of war. This was an epochal event for Serbian theatre: none of our theaters have ever performed in Geneva for two weeks, on every day of those two weeks - says Mlađenović.

"The Divine Comedy"

The Serbian National Theatre is the oldest professional theatre in Serbia. It was founded in July 1861, at a session of the Serbian Reading Room presided over by Svetozar Miletić, in Novi Sad. The new theatre held a guest performance in Belgrade in 1868. Enchanted by actors from Novi Sad, Prince Mihailo demanded theatre manager Jovan Đorđević found a permanent theatre in Belgrade. Đorđević got down to work and brought half of Novi Sad's ensemble to Belgrade. The National Theatre was founded in the capital the same year.

The first theatre, Serbian National Theatre, has entered its 120^th season. The marble building of SNT covers more than 200,000 square meters, has a great 940-seat hall ("Jovan Đorđević"), a small 373-seat hall ("Pera Dobrinović"), the Chamber Stage - a stage for orchestra, ballet and the choir rehearsals - as well as a complete support of the workshops. It most frequently gives guest performances in the Belgrade Sava Center as theatres in the area lack a sufficiently large stage. On the other hand, Belgrade theatres frequently and willingly give guest performances in the SNT building.