Preparations for this year's 26th edition of Budva's Grad Theater festival, which "turns" 26 years old after the jubilee this summer, are already entering the final stage, and Saša Samardžić, a lawyer by profession and a long-time collaborator of the festival, was recently appointed as the president of the Grad Theater Council.
Samardžić told "Vijesta" that as a member of the generation that grew up with the festival, he is impressed by what Grad Teatar represents today and where it is on the cultural map of these areas and Europe.
"That image of a cultural metropolis in the Budva region, despite the time that is globally difficult in every sense, must continue to be nurtured. Because being a brand in such frameworks does not only encompass the festival, but the entire cultural strategy of both the city of Budva and the state of Montenegro. I believe that people here have an ear for it, and that in this sense, and in accordance with time and its challenges, the City Theater will be upgraded," he said.
What do you think is most important in that strategy for the further development of the Grad Theater today?
"In addition to the values it already has, such as openness to all that is best in the artistic offer of these spaces, building cultural bridges, communication and cooperation with neighbors and the world, promotion of the cultural identity of Montenegro, I think that the City Theater can be refreshed with greater communication with similar festivals in this part of Europe. This includes a new contact with the Dubrovnik Summer Games, cooperation with the Malih scena festival in Rijeka, Sarajevo MES, Belgrade BITEF, Montenegrin National Theater, as well as some festivals in Europe. Exchange of experience and ideas is always mutually valuable. What should also be insisted on is a stronger promotion of the City Theater as part of the tourist offer, since it is known that many guests coordinated their annual vacations precisely according to the festival program. Of course, that was a different era, and that many circumstances were different, but we need to analyze a little who are the guests of Budva today, and what are their needs. It is certainly not just the sea.
It is believed that during the summer there are still "two" Budva - the one that only needs entertainment of the broadest spectrum and which is more numerous, and the other, smaller, artistic one. Can so many differences be reconciled and how?
"Those 'two' Budva's do not necessarily have to be in conflict, I think it is also very important how something is marketed. For example - the concerts of world musicians on the stage in front of the walls of the Old Town, last summer, were watched with great attention by almost the whole of Budva. Likewise and ambient spectacles and plays that were organized on the same stage, interesting literary evenings and exhibitions. We are aware, of course, of the entertaining Budva, but we cannot insist that Budva be only this, or only that. The city of theater, precisely because of its quality and with elitism, he tries to attract that 'other' population as his audience. I believe, namely, that every person, regardless of his personal culture, desires and education, cannot be completely blind to artistic beauty. Especially those younger generations of guests should to attract, which is not an impossible mission. There are many young people who follow Grad Teatr's programs, but there should be even more of them.
How can that "other" audience be attracted, as well as people who are potential viewers?
"With more transparent promotion of the festival and greater animation in the city itself - on the beach, in restaurants, cafes, shops, in every place, as, for example, Dubrovnik, French Avignon, or Bogota do. I think that the whole of Budva should live with its festival fully, every citizen, to consider it their own, their everyday life, to belong to it, and to be aware that they should offer it as one of the greatest values of their city. The citizens of Budva are, of course, proud of the City Theater, but they themselves must be even more to work for him, because for the impression he leaves on the guests, not only the people who are employed in that institution are responsible. The city theater is a serious 'work task' of the entire city, that should always be insisted upon. And I will also cite one fine example - a few years ago, when Michael Douglas with his wife Kathryn Zita Jones and friends stopped in Budva completely incognito on his fantastic yacht, he was surprised by the festival flags that read "Theatre city Budva". The only thing he asked some people while walking through the Old Town was is whether the whole city of Budva is really a theater.
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