GRADIŠKA REMEMBERS LJUBICA

The third edition of the Republic of Srpska Theater Festival "Ljubica," dedicated to the first professional actress in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ljubica Stefanović Lazić, will be held from May 17 to 23 at the Cultural Center in Gradiška.

PHOTO: Milan Vujić

The festival will be a competitive event, featuring theaters from across the Republic of Srpska.

"The City Theater of Gradiška, in collaboration with the city government, the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, and other partners, is organizing the third edition of the Republic of Srpska Theater Festival 'Ljubica' in honor of Ljubica Stefanović Lazić, who was born in Gradiška," said city manager Bojan Vujinović.

This year, the festival will be enhanced by an exhibition dedicated to Milica Babić Andrić, the first educated Serbian costume designer and wife of Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić.

Participating theaters include the National Theater of Republic of Srpska, City Theater Semberija, City Theater Gradiška, Prijedor Theater, "Jazavac" City Theater from Banja Luka, and the National Theater of East Sarajevo.

"The main goal of the festival is the promotion of theatrical arts, the appreciation of outstanding achievements, the development of dramatic literature, and the presentation of the cultural heritage of the Republic of Srpska," said Zlatan Vidović, director of the City Theater Gradiška.

Tanja Đaković, Assistant Minister for Culture at the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, emphasized that the "Ljubica" festival is one of the most promising in the field of theater arts.

"The 'Ljubica' festival was rated the best and highest quality in the theater arts category in the 2024 competition organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska. It is rare for something new to shine so brightly right away," Đaković noted, as reported by Glas Srpske.

This year’s festival selector is Slađana Zrnić, the leading actress of the National Theater of Republic of Srpska.