Art
Ivan Medenica, Bitef Artistic Director “Although I would maintain that dramatic and choreographic performances represent equally valuable and relevant forms of contemporary performing arts, and that they all absolutely have a place at Bitef, we nonetheless take care to preserve the stage tradition and the expectations of our milieu” ~ Ivan Medenica
F THE WORLD IS AT A
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TIPPING POINT September
or the first time in its history, the Belgrade International Theatre Festival, the world renowned Bitef, will have two editions this autumn – the 54th and 55th – because last year saw only the Prologue held, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This will also be the first time that a larger number of plays than usual will be coming to Belgrade for Bitef – with as many as 14 set to arrive! Under the slogan On the Edge of the Future, the main programme has been divided into two parts: the environmental problems of today, and the so-called world after, the world without man.This year’s participants hail from Germany, France, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, but also from Iran, as well as co-productions from Mexico, Chile and Austria. The new double edition of Bitef provided the occasion for us to converse with theatrologist Dr Ivan Medenica, artistic director of Bitef and professor at the Belgrade Faculty of Dramatic Arts. The titles of Bitef, which are among its trademarks, traditionally signify some burning issue at the global level, but also criticism of those who caused that issue. Who is being criticised by this year’s title?
All those who’ve brought our civilisation to the brink of oblivion by contributing to climate change and environmental pollution.The slogan of this year’s Bitef, On the Edge of the Future, is sufficiently alarming. The future is here,
