Bozidar Bobo Đurović is a unique example of the local cultural scene. For three decades he has been associated with National Theatre in Belgrade - as he says, especially "emotionally" - but they haven't let him really work there for more than a decade.
Admittedly, Bobo Đurović is still employed and receives a salary. "I have essentially been retired for more than a decade, the only thing is that I receive a salary, not a pension," says Đurović for the new issue of "Vremena", which hit newsstands on Thursday (April 11).
What is it about? The last thing Đurović directed in the most important theater in the country was Collection center Dusan Kovačević. It was back in 2003.
After that, he successively became the director of Drama, then the assistant manager, and finally, until 2012, he was also the manager of the entire National Theater. During that period, he did not want to direct because of a conflict of interest.
But, since the change of government, Đurović is a "permanent director" again. He was appointed in a competition while the Minister of Culture was Ivan Tasovac, but for years the Government of Serbia did not want to confirm that appointment and then cancel the competition.
And what was agreed was cancelled
At the National Theatre, more suitable directors were appearing, but it seems that Đurović was never "suited" to direct.
"Every authoritarian regime is looking for only obedient people, slobberheads and skunks, who are not allowed to think for themselves, and the government protects them regardless of the results," he told "Vreme".
"I am convinced that the reason is a combination of personal interests of party members, my non-membership and disobedience."
When Svetislav Bule Goncić - one of the acting stars of SNS - arrived in the place of Ivana Vujić Kominac, as the previous manager of the National Theatre, Đurović experienced new inconveniences.
"At the very end of my mandate, Ivana Vujić called me and in a collegial conversation, and in her 'desire to end the shameful injustice', we agreed that I would direct Banović Strahinj Borislav Mihailović Mihiz, as well as, after two decades of playing, which was interrupted due to the death of Marko Nikolić, at the request of the actors, to renew Enigmatic variations", says Đurović.
"However, the new manager Svetislav Goncić told me in an impolite, uncollegial and untheatrical conversation, probably because of one of my interviews, that despite the decision of the Board of Directors and the former manager, I will not direct Banović Strahinj nor restore Enigmatic variations, and that since I, as he said, am against him, 'I will direct when the conditions are right', as well as 'that I am one of the 350 employees who do not work, but receive a salary'."
Other doors are also closing
Đurović says that he does not know if they are just waiting for him to leave on his own, but he does not intend to do anything like that.
He also says that the doors of other theaters are largely closed to him because henchmen dominate there as well.
True, he directed in the "Zvezdara Theater" and in the "Zoran Radmilović" theater in Zaječar, this February the Nikšić Theater in Montenegro celebrated its 140th anniversary with Đurović's direction Godfather Dusan Kovačević.
"The National Theater - like almost all institutions - is subordinated to the interests of the current government. And if one of the most important cultural institutions in the country is not important to them, it is quite natural that every individual is unimportant to them," adds the director.
You can read the entire interview with Božidar Đurović in the printed edition of Vremena, which is on newsstands. You can subscribe to the digital edition here.
