NATIONAL THEATRE “TOŠA JOVANOVIĆ” – Zrenjanin

NATIONAL THEATRE “TOŠA JOVANOVIĆ” – Zrenjanin

Drama Stage

The first records of theatrical art among Serbs are linked to Bečkerek as early as the 18th century, and to the local teacher Jelisejić and his amateur student acting troupe. In 1839, a grain warehouse was converted into a theater. According to legend, the theater was created out of the immense love of a wealthy local citizen for a famous actress from Pest; in order to bring her closer and attract her to the town, he built the theater. Thus, the Bečkerek theater is one of the oldest theater buildings in the former Yugoslavia.

Its Baroque interior is of exceptional beauty, acoustics, and functionality, with a fundamentally chamber character. The present exterior appearance was achieved through a thorough reconstruction and adaptation in 1985. Thanks to preserved original plans, the interior has been restored and remains authentic. For nearly a century, the theater did not have a professional troupe (hosting Hungarian, German, and Serbian theaters), but since 1946 it has had its own ensemble performing on three stages: drama, chamber, and puppet. The theater is named after the renowned Serbian Romantic-era actor Toša Jovanović.

Puppet Stage

The theatrical life of Zrenjanin dates back to the late 18th century, largely shaped by guest performances of prominent Central European theaters. A professional theater was established in 1839, along with the construction of the theater building in the city center, which remains a stronghold of theatrical art to this day. The auditorium has retained its original Baroque design with minimal changes.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the first puppet performances appeared in Zrenjanin, mostly within amateur groups. A professional puppet theater was founded in 1956 and has since staged four premieres in Serbian and two in Hungarian each year. With the integration of the Drama and Puppet theaters in 1975, the National Theatre “Toša Jovanović” was formed, with two stages: Drama and Puppet.

Each year, the Puppet Stage performs around 250 shows, including about 100 touring performances. Over the past decade, the ensemble has achieved remarkable success, becoming one of the most prominent puppet theater ensembles in Serbia. For its artistic achievements, the Puppet Stage has received more than 200 awards at international and Yugoslav festivals. Among the most significant are five awards at the Golden Dolphin festival in Bulgaria (in competition with 25 theaters from 12 countries), the Critics’ Award for Best Performance at the first World Festival of Children’s Theaters in Greece, a UNESCO recognition, invited participation at international festivals such as BITEF and PIF, and numerous awards at major Yugoslav festivals.

The Puppet Stage has performed its most notable productions in Austria, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, successfully presenting its artistic achievements and opening new space for creative innovation in puppetry. From each tour, the ensemble has returned with numerous awards and recognitions.

Trg slobode 7, Zrenjanin
+381 (0)23 560 141 +381 (0)23 530 493 +381 (0)23 560 136
[email protected]
www.tosajovanovic.org.rs
facebook.com/narodnopozoriste.tosajovanovic/?ref=page_internal

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