New National Theater rules to silence artists

After actors and actresses during the past theater season wore red gloves and raised student IDs at performances in support of the student protesters, the new management is now moving to discipline artists. The National Theater in Belgrade has introduced a new decree that prohibits employees from “verbally, symbolically, or through gestures expressing their political opinions.”

“It is my constitutional right to have a political stance, it is not just a privilege, but also a right, and in my opinion, an obligation of every adult citizen of this country,” said Darko Tomovic, an actor at the National Theater.

“This goes against the very idea of art. I don’t understand how they cannot grasp that every performance is a form of message,” said playwright Ivan Lalic.

“Theater is precisely that agora where political questions converge, and where a supreme spiritual, non-partisan, and indeed every other kind of political stance is expressed – both in the works of writers and, by extension, through the actions of artists, professionally and privately,” Tomovic added.

This new clause in the regulations, implemented at the National Theater by the new management, forces precisely what is contrary to theater itself: silence. The newly appointed chairman of the National Theater Management Board is Dragoslav Bokan, a man alleged to have headed a paramilitary group that committed war crimes in Croatia.

“We have more than a consensus that this won't just pass quietly. We are not sheep to be disciplined with a stick, we have our own opinions. We are citizens of this country and, as such, we are responsible for it, and above all, for the institution where we perform our important work,” Tomovic said.

The actors respond that they will not agree to silence.

“This then suggests that they will start banning performances that, in any way, deal with something political, or something happening in society. I think this is just the beginning,” said actor Davor Perunovic, who chose to end his engagement at the Puz Children’s Theater, speaking about the pressures even children’s theater ensembles face.

“In an informal conversation, I told the theater head that we are ready for anything, and that we will defend ourselves, not just ourselves, but also our institution,” Tomovic said.

While awaiting the outcome of the measures introduced this new season, they declare that they will not relinquish their right to protest.