Selector:
Zeljko Hubač
Playwright
FROM THE SELECTOR'S REPORT
After reviewing the submitted productions, the overall impression is that theatres for children are increasingly placing strong social engagement at the forefront. The need to address the challenges of growing up in contemporary society in an impactful and artistically relevant way has led to a shift from modernized fairy tales toward performances that approach reality more directly, without embellishment, emphasizing the importance of virtue, responsibility, and inner strength.
The backbone of the selection consists of productions that deal with young people confronting life’s challenges, highlighting the importance of personal resilience and solidarity. The authors convey their ideas through dynamic dramatic action, following contemporary aesthetic trends and contributing to the development of theatre for children and young audiences. At the same time, there remains a strand of production that relies on stage attractiveness and interpretations of classical fairy tales, with clearly defined ethical frameworks. This approach is also represented in the selection, with the aim of presenting the diversity of poetics within regional theatre.
As the Festival did not take place in 2025, the concept of the previous selection has been retained, with the possibility for theatres to propose new productions. This decision was influenced both by reduced production and by the intention to maintain a fair and respectful relationship with participating artists and companies. Following all reviewed performances, I propose to the Festival Council the following competition selection:
1. The shine of Stars on the Ceiling by Johanna Thydell, dramatized by Tijana Grumić, directed by Damjan Kecojević, Little Theatre “Duško Radović”, Belgrade
2. The Moon’s Guest by Branko Ćopić, dramatized by Marija Ritan, directed by Nikola Zavišić, Children’s Theatre of Republika Srpska, Banja Luka
3. The Summer I Learnt to Fly by Jasminka Petrović, dramatized by Branislava Ilić, directed by Goran Golovko, National Theatre Užice
4. I Am Akiko by Stefan Tićmi, dramatized by Ana Prolić, directed by Slađana Kilibarda, City Theatre Žar ptica, Zagreb
5. Giga Makes the Sea by Jasminka Petrović, dramatized by Dunja Matić, directed by Milja Mazarak Marinkov, Puppet Stage of the National Theatre “Toša Jovanović”, Zrenjanin
6. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, adapted by Ken Ludwig, directed by Ivan Vuković, Theatre “Boško Buha”, Belgrade
7. Тhe miracle by Teodora Marković (based on the novel by R. J. Palacio), directed by Emilija Mrdaković, Puppet Theatre “Pinokio”, Belgrade
8. Why Don’t They Care by Milana Matejić, directed by Petar Pejaković, Youth Theatre Sarajevo
9. Aska and the Wolf, written and directed by Isidora Stanišić, based on the short story by Ivo Andrić, Puppet Theatre Niš
10. The One-Moustached Knight by Dejan Aleksić, directed by Aleksandra Kovačević, Kraljevo Theatre, Kraljevo
11. The Big World of Little Zoe, written and directed by Aleksandra Đurić, Pan Teatar, Belgrade
Given that this is a jubilee edition of the Festival, that a certain discontinuity occurred last year, and that the Festival management requested a program encompassing audiences of all ages, I also propose that the following productions be presented in the non-competitive program:
1. Dawn and Dream, an original project by Mina Ćirić, Puppet Theatre “Pinokio”, Belgrade
2. Magical Soap Bubbles, an original project by Predrag Kotur, Art & Arte Production, Belgrade
3. Lora, the Cloudy Doctor, an original project by Jelena Paligorić Sinkević, Mokoša, Belgrade
4. Extinct Objects by Irena Antin and Vladimir Beljić, directed by Irena Antin, Cultural Centre “Talas”, Smederevo
March, 2026.
Zeljko Hubač
