Drama Ensemble National Theatre in Belgrade he got two female colleagues. They are Maja Kundačina and Jovana Jelić.
Both were accepted for an indefinite period, and are almost unknown to the ensemble and the theater public.
Who are they?
Maja Kundačina is a young actress, she plays in a play at the National Theatre, in Iran Conference, which has been in the repertoire ten times since its premiere in 2022. Maja Kundačina is the wife of Nebojša Kundačina, who, according to the ensemble, was unjustifiably promoted to champion this summer and whose employment relationship was extended for a year, even though he met the requirements for an old-age pension.
Jovana Jelić graduated from the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka. Apart from that, the only thing known about her in the Drama ensemble is that she is the wife of Vlado Jelic, host of Dnevnik on RTS. She has never stepped on the stage of the National Theater until now. Her resume doesn't recommend her, even though she was old enough to fill it out.
Freelancers with awards
Of course, it was not possible to get an explanation about this change in the National Theater from the authorities and those responsible.
That's why we don't have an explanation on what basis these two actresses were hired. It is not known whether a competition was announced for those jobs, nor whether they were discussed in the Arts Council. Given that contests for actors have long been a rarity, it is impossible that this particular one was not known about.
During all that time, the Drama ensemble of the National Theater has ten long-term freelancers: Vanja Milačić, Iva Milanović, Danilo Lončarević, Vaja Dujović... All well-known acting names won big roles and awards at the National Theatre.
Photo: National TheatreVanja Milacic in the "Humour Central"
Vanja Milacic is, possibly, the paymaster with the longest tenure in Belgrade. During that time, she brought the National Theater thirty awards, last year, for example, at the Purgatorie festival in Tivat, she received the award for the best female role - for Žanka in Humor centers. The National Theater boasted about it in a text on its website, but omitted to publish a photo of Vanja Milačić.
It was not difficult to think that this was a punishment for her decision to dedicate the award to students in Serbia.
Danilo Lončarević plays Prince Andrej Bolkonski in the National Theatre War and peace. In addition, he also plays in plays Our class, A grieving family, Big drama, Macbeth, Imaginary patient... And yet, it has the status of an associate member.
Photo: TanjugIva Milanovic
Iva Milanović works for a certain period of time. This year, she received an award for young actress at the Sterija Theater. It recently premiered at the National Theatre God's people.
The ensemble will react
Darko Tomović, the president of Singlus, the actors' union of the National Theatre, tells "Vreme" that accepting new members into the ensemble is not a union issue, but regardless of the fact that they have no rights, the union will react to it. Ensemble too.
Željko Hubač, the playwright of the National Theater, believes that the decision to accept actresses, one of whom has never even set foot in the National Theater and the other plays in only one play, is "an unartistic act, counterproductive for the National Theater, especially since they do not have biographies recommending them, and especially because the Drama ensemble has long-term regulars who play the main roles on this stage and carry the repertoire."
The ensemble expects that this latest decision will further worsen the rather difficult atmosphere in the house.
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