Aleksandra Delic, director Šabac Theatre, decided to end the season on May 29 and not at the end of June when it ends, due to the reconstruction of the theater's foyer and buffet.
Given that these are not urgent works that cannot wait for the summer break, most of the acting ensemble interprets this decision of the director as another attempt to shut down the Šabac Theater. Here's why
Reasons for the dismissal of the acting director
Since March of last year, Aleksandra Delic has been appointed director, and that despite great public opposition of the majority of collectives, the first new performance of the Šabac Theater was held only in December of last year, on New Year's Day. Most of the actors of that play were guests.
The next one was played at the end of January this year, it was the premiere of a play for children The boy and the red umbrella, and at the end of February was the premiere of the evening play Next year at the same time.
The previous premiere at Večernja scena was Kraljević Marko for the second time among the Serbs October 2024, which means that there was no new evening performance for 16 months.
This also means that 80 percent of the actors this season did not have the opportunity to act on their stage.
At the same time, the program budget is similar to that of previous years, although the production is quantitatively much smaller.
How much do guest performances cost?
Apart from the two mentioned plays staged this season, all other plays in the repertoire are guest performances.
It is not known how much they cost, because the Financial Report is not available to the Supervisory Board. The administration also refuses to provide the trade union with access to information of public importance.
Because of all this, the actors founded the informal group "Sabačko pozorište o koncu" and the play This is not a play. which they show in the cities of Serbia, and as a whistle-blower they point to the irregularities they are experiencing.
The management believes that the "Sabac Theater on Thread" is fighting against the theater, and the employees received several warnings before being fired because of wearing the "Sabac Theater on Thread" badge. By the way, the badge was only one of the reasons for the warnings before dismissal that Delić gave to many employees.
In a statement to the media regarding the shortening of the season, the "Nezavisnost" - Šabac theater is demanding the resignation of Aleksandra Delic for the umpteenth time, and draws attention to "the management and the founder, the city of Šabac, that this attitude towards dramatic art and theater workers is fatal for the cultural institution in the city that celebrates 186 years of theatrical life. We appeal to stop the collapse of culture, freedom of speech and workers' rights and to preserve the institution of the Šabac theater in which many employees have invested their whole life, work and love".
No response from the city authorities
Miloš Vojnović, trustee of the union "Nezavisnost" and an actor of this theater, tells "Vreme" that they have been trying to get in touch with the leaders of the city "since November 18 last year, when we strike warnings were received by the director, listened, and said that she was not responsible for our requests. Then we agreed to hold a joint meeting with the president of the city assembly and the mayor, who are in charge. However, that still hasn't happened. Since then, every month until this March, we sent them a letter requesting a meeting. They never answered."
Photo: N1Miloš Vojnović
Miloš Vojnović says that they once "went to the mayor but were told that he was away and that he would contact us. Of course he didn't. What were we supposed to do, chase him down the street?"
"It is obvious that they are completely disinterested in the survival of the theater. All they care about is the form, the appearance that it exists, and of course, they also need a stage for loyalists," says Miloš Vojnović and concludes, "let's move on."
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