RUTA Theatre Festival in Tivat opens with the play "The Bald Singer"

The second edition of the regional theater festival RUTA was officially opened on Sunday evening in Tivat, with the play "The Bald Singer" directed by Jagoš Marković, produced by the Tivat Cultural Center.

The festival lasts until April 24th and over the course of six days brings the audience carefully selected and award-winning performances of contemporary regional production.

The festival was opened by the director of the Tivat Cultural Center, Goran Božović, emphasizing that the participation of cities such as Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Sarajevo and Skopje is a great honor, but also a confirmation of the quality of the work of Tivat's cultural institution.

"This is a privilege for us and a serious confirmation of our dedicated work. It is no coincidence that the Tivat Cultural Center carries the Montenegrin flag in this regional initiative," said Božović, emphasizing that the festival "builds bridges and connects the region through art, love and trust."

The play "The Bald Singer", which opened the festival, is one of the most awarded in the history of Montenegrin theater, with a total of 36 awards. This year, the play also celebrates its 50th performance.

Speaking about the play, playwright and author of the Boka stage speech Neven Staničić reminded that its key lies precisely in language and its transformation.

"We did not do a literal translation, but a new play – a language play, in the spirit of Ionesco. This is exactly what, along with the Boka dialect, gave this version its authenticity and strength," Staničić pointed out.

After the performance, the actors spoke about the specific work process and the strong collective energy of the ensemble.

Momčilo Otašević emphasized that the play goes beyond classical performance: "This is no longer just a play – this is life on stage. The process was intense, every rehearsal like a play, and the work does not stop with the end of the rehearsal."

Dubravka Drakić emphasized the importance of togetherness: "The basis of the play is mutual trust and collective play. Jagoš's criteria were deeply human – he sought truth, emotion, and complete dedication."

Olga Odanović particularly pointed out the demands of working with the director: "Working with Jagoš was not easy – he demanded the maximum, but he also brought enormous energy and emotion. For me, theater is, above all, an emotion that reaches the audience."

Sandra Bugarski emphasized that the play generated emotion within the absurd.

"We managed to find truth and emotion in that world of absurdity. That's what the audience recognizes," she said.

Branko Vidaković emphasized the ensemble's special connection with the play: "We all fell in love with the play. That is its strength – that energy that makes us look forward to each new performance."

The RUTA Tivat 2026 Festival once again confirms the importance of regional cultural cooperation, offering the audience top-notch theatrical productions and a space for artistic dialogue. RUTA brings together six renowned theaters from the region: Belgrade Drama Theater, Drama Theater Skopje, Ljubljana City Theater, Ulysses Theater Zagreb, Chamber Theater 55 Sarajevo, and the Tivat Cultural Center.