AMATEUR THEATRE – Novi Bečej

AMATEUR THEATRE – Novi Bečej

The Amateur Theatre of Novi Bečej is an amateur troupe founded in 1830 by Antonije Breževski, and it operated until 1848. After Breževski’s death in 1840, the troupe was led by Šandor Dada, and in 1844 by Jovan Knežević Caca, when the Novi Bečej and Vranjevo troupes briefly merged. From 1845 to 1848, leadership returned to Šandor Dada.

In 1857, Knežević reestablished the amateur troupe, which operated until 1860, when he traveled to Čanad, winning audiences in Novi Bečej and the surrounding areas, including Kikinda and Veliki Sente Mikloš. After receiving official permission to operate, he returned to Novi Bečej and Vranjevo, transforming the first amateur troupe into the first Serbian professional theatre.

With this newly formed professional theatre, Knežević toured major towns in Vojvodina with great success, including northern Banat, Bačko Potisje, Kanjiža, and many others. In the autumn of 1860, the theatre moved to Novi Sad. The visit of the Novi Bečej troupe to Novi Sad was decisive for the founding of the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad in July 1861.

It is important to note that the first pioneers of Serbian theatre were from Vranjevo, and the cradle of Serbian theatre was shaken to life in Novi Bečej. Several of the greatest names in Serbian stage history began their theatrical careers in Vranjevo.

Jovan Knežević Caca was undoubtedly the founder, manager, director, and actor of the first Serbian theatre, with Novi Bečej serving as a hub of theatrical troupes.

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