Theatre festivals in Zagreb and Sarajevo to address social taboos and conflict

Two major theatre festivals are set to address complex social issues through contemporary performances.

The 4th edition of the ‘Bolje da o tome (ne) razgovaramo’ festival, organized by Teatr Poco Loco, will take place from September 21 to 25 at the KNAP Center in Zagreb. The festival aims to encourage dialogue regarding taboo subjects for youth, including the education system and the impact of political decisions on children. This year, five productions were selected from 33 applications across 14 countries. The program includes the Croatian premiere of ‘Klammov rat’, a monodrama exploring the psychological collapse of a literature professor.

Meanwhile, the 66th MESS International Theatre Festival will be held from October 2 to 10 in Sarajevo. Under the motto ‘Znamo. Šta sad?’, the program focuses on themes of war, persecution, violence against women, and responsibility. The festival features artists from the Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Palestine, Austria, and Italy. Key productions include ‘Ničija zemlja’, a co-production exploring identity and borders, and ‘Sigurno mjesto’, a documentary piece regarding migration in the Mediterranean.