The production of The Woman from Sarajevo by Ivo Andrić, directed by Gorčin Stojanović, is currently the longest running production on the repertoire of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. It opened on 26th April, 2013 on our Ljuba Tadić stage. And in April this year the production celebrated its tenth birthday since the opening night.
In his direction Gorčin Stojanović used the dramatisation by Marko Fotez from 1962 when Andrić served as president of the Art Council of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. The initial cast included Nataša Ninković, Vojislav Brajović, Nataša Tapušković, Srđan Timarov, Jasmina Avramović, Milan Marić, Marko Baćović, Vesna Stanković, Anđelika Simić, Stefan Bundalo and Dejan Dedić. Dramaturgy by Miloš Krečković, set design by Gorčin Stojanović, costume design by Lana Cvijanović with choreography by Miloš Paunović.
The Woman from Sarajevo was performed at the Purgatorije Mediterranean Theatre Festival in Tivat, on the stage of the Zagreb Youth Theatre as part of the European Theatre at ZKM cycle at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad….
Just like the structure of Andrić’s novel, the action of The Woman from Sarajevo is divided in two parts – one taking place during the decades of seismic changes occurring towards the end of 19th and early 20th century and then the years in the wake of WWI and the disintegration of of two large empires. This is the background against which the exciting life story of Rajka Radaković unfolds, one of Andrić’s great heroines. It tells the life story of a woman who, not quite understanding the changing times and the upheavals in the world around her, dedicates all her energy to fulfilling the terrible vow she made to her father many years ago. Thus she spends her life feverishly saving money, passionately amassing more, spending her entire life unloved and without joy, alienated and alone, right up to her tragic end.
The last performance in this season is scheduled for 24th May. The production will be subtitled in English.