Bitef

ON BITEF

Founded in 1967, trough the initiative of Mira Trailović and Jovan Cirilov, BITEF (Belgrade Internationl Theaatre Festival) has continually followed and supported the latest theatre trends, becoming thus one of the biggest and the most important European festivals. Transcending all political and cultural borders, in more then four decades Bitef has managed to keep its pace with a tumultuous evolution of performing arts. Thus, one could identify the history of Bitef as a history of contemporary theatre. Through the revolutionary Sixties and Seventies, Bitef spectators could see some of the most courageous stage experiments pursuing the destruction of dramatic forms, but also some significant classical achievements, as well as the examples of the traditional Oriental theatre. In the Eighties and Nineties, Bitef has presented highest reaches of the post-modern theatre and dance. Even in the conditions of political-economic crisis and embargo the festival succeeded to promote ultimate cultural values, bringing to Belgrade some of the biggest names of the world performance. In the first decade of the 21st century, Bitef presents the original and innovative productions of the world mainstream theatre, the performances of post-dramatic, non verbal expression, as well as those realised with new technologies. thus opening its doors to the virtual reality of cyber theatre. In the course of all these years, Bitef has preserved its place in the family of major international festivals. For its continuity and quality Bitef was awarded the Special Prize for 1999 by “Premio Europa per il teatro”. Bitef was founded by the Belgrade City Hall, whereas Bitef theatre is in charge of the production and organization. The theatre was founded in 1989, with the chief purpose of discovering and supporting new theatre tendencies in the local context.

3 ON BITEF 4 WHO IS WHO AT 48BITEF14 5 JURY AND AWARDS 7 POLITIKA JURY 8 SELECTOR’S WORD ★ main programme 12 WHERE’S THE REVOLUTION SCUM? 16 (A)POLLONIA 20 OUR CLASS 24 NEW THEATRE TENDENCIES LECTURE-PERFORMANCE 28 ON TRIAL TOGETHER 32 PAST IS PRESENT 36 BATTLEFIELD MEMORY 1914/2014 40 A TOMB FOR BORIS DAVIDOVICH 44 THE DRAGONSLAYERS 48 THIS GRAVE IS TOO SMALL FOR ME 52 ALEKSANDRA ZEC 56 NEOPLANTA 60 THE CRAZY LOCOMOTIVE 64 FRONT

SIDE PROGRAMME

68 BITEFONFILM 74 BITEF POLYPHONY 90 DOCUMENTARY THEATRE WORKSHOP 92 DEBATE PROGRAMME 96 B_TOUR 101 AFTER TEN

CONTENT

3

Past is now

48 Bitef 14