Why does the National Theater throw costumes in the dumpster?

The photo we are publishing was taken on Tuesday, October 28, in Belgrade, in Brače Jugović Street in front of the building National Theatre.

Theater costumes are neatly hung on the containers, as if they were ordinary pieces of clothing, so that someone would take them. Costumes are not everyday clothes, they are the work of art of the costume designer and the handiwork of the schneider. And the artwork is not thrown in the dumpster.

Since they are identical, these cast-off costumes were obviously made for the chorus members of an operatic performance. In Belgrade, apart from the "Madlenianum" in Zemun, opera performances are shown only in the National Theater, so it is logical to assume that these discarded costumes are theirs.

We didn't manage to find out which opera they were used for - several members of the National Theater Choir we talked to don't recognize them, and therefore think they are old, damaged or scrapped.

Fundus clearance

In addition to the fact that since October 3rd, the National Theater has been allegedly repairing the fire protection devices, the clearing of the funds is also underway. The costumes hanging on the container are the result and consequence of that cleaning.

Arranging the fund of the National Theater is undoubtedly a necessary and important action, it is known that it is flooded and that it is not in very good condition, but it is also known how to deal with worn out and damaged costumes: they are neatly arranged and donated to a smaller or amateur theater.

It is not attached to the container in any way. At least that's how it was in the National Theater until now.

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