REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA OPENS SECOND NATIONAL THEATER

In East Sarajevo, a new National Theater has been officially opened, making it the second national theater in the Republic of Srpska, following the one in Banja Luka.

In her opening speech, the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, Željka Stojičić, highlighted the significant advancements in theater arts achieved through clear and dedicated cultural policies. She noted that the Republic of Srpska now boasts three national cultural institutions: the Children's Theater of Srpska and two national theaters in Banja Luka and now in East Sarajevo, along with three municipal theaters in Gradiška, Prijedor, and Bijeljina.

"Moreover, we have launched two new theater festivals, 'Ljubica' and the student theater festival 'PAF,' as well as a Ministry of Education and Culture competition for the development of domestic drama texts," Stojičić added. She emphasized that ancient theater art teaches people about themselves and the world they live in, successfully resisting new trends and media, and acting as a societal corrective. "Theater is the last oasis of truth and direct communication, and it has the chance to be the final bastion of humanity and ethics," she said, wishing the newly opened theater success.

A congratulatory letter from the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, was read to the attendees. Prior to the official opening, Dodik toured the new cultural institution and wished it fruitful work.

Jelena Krstić, Acting Director of the National Theater East Sarajevo, expressed her gratitude for the efforts of the President and the Government of the Republic of Srpska in establishing this second national theater. "We hope to cultivate the theater in the right spirit, as theater is love," said Krstić, announcing the first performances for the autumn season.

Mayor of East New Sarajevo, Jovan Katić, remarked that Serbs in these areas have built theaters in every century. He pointed out that invitations for the opening of the theater in Sarajevo were once printed in Cyrillic, underscoring Serbian identity and the indisputable fact that Serbs created Sarajevo. "Due to well-known events, we had to leave behind everything we built in Sarajevo, but we carried with us our spirit, perseverance, and culture as part of our identity," Katić stated. He added that Serbs have transformed a former barracks site into East New Sarajevo, and now a theater that will benefit all citizens.

Ljubiša Ćosić, Mayor of East Sarajevo, said that the opening of the National Theater is a testament to the perseverance and triumph of the Serbian people over the centuries. "This is a new Despić House 155 years later," Ćosić noted, referring to the first Sarajevo theater established in the home of the Serbian merchant family Despić.

Ćosić emphasized that the National Theater in East Sarajevo reflects the Republic of Srpska in this region. "The Republic of Srpska is demonstrating its success here in East Sarajevo, and this theater will soon be a hub for top performances and a gathering place for the Serbian people," he declared, calling it a pivotal point in the cultural sector.

During the opening ceremony, a documentary by Zoran Kubura about the history of Serbian theater life in Sarajevo since the late 19th century, including the wartime theater scene in what was then Serbian Sarajevo, was shown. The musical part of the program featured performances by members of the Belgrade Opera, Ljubica Vraneš and Dragoljub Bajić, accompanied by Lazar Marić on piano and Draško Spasojević on saxophone, along with a fitting dramatic program. Actors Bojan Kolopić and Filip Radovanović premiered the one-act play "Actor" by Zoran Todorović.

Among the attendees were His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostom of Dabar-Bosnia, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac, Serbian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivan Todorov, and a representative from the Russian Embassy.

The National Theater in East Sarajevo was built in stages with 2.5 million KM funded by the municipality of East New Sarajevo and an additional 3.5 million KM from the Republic of Srpska's budget. The idea for this cultural institution dates back to 2003, with construction beginning in 2017, supported by the Government of the Republic of Srpska, the city of East Sarajevo, and the municipality of East New Sarajevo.

The first performance at the newly opened theater will be on May 24th, featuring the play "Miss" by the National Theater of the Republic of Srpska. On May 25th, Nikšić Theater will present "Boeing-Boeing," and on May 26th, children's performances of "Little Red Riding Hood" by the Children's Theater of the Republic of Srpska will take place at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. On May 27th, Tanja Bošković will perform "Memories of Sarah Bernhardt."