FESTIVAL "LJUBICA" OPENED WITH THE PLAY "MERMAID AND VICTORIA"

GRADIŠKA, MAY 16 /SRNA/ - The Theatre Festival of Republika Srpska “Ljubica” opened tonight in Gradiška with the premiere of the play “Mermaid and Victoria” by the local City Theatre of Gradiška.

Assistant Minister for Culture in the Government of Republika Srpska, Tanja Đaković, said at the opening that the “Ljubica” Festival has, in a short time, earned a place in the hearts of audiences and on the cultural scene of Republika Srpska, bringing together artists, dedicated people, and an audience that understands theatre. “This festival, through high-quality performances and accompanying programs, sends a message that culture is not something to be taken for granted, but something that is constantly being built. That is precisely why the Ministry of Education and Culture has supported the ‘Ljubica’ Festival in Gradiška from the very beginning,” Đaković said. Opening the Festival, Mayor of Gradiška Zoran Adžić said that “Ljubica” has become a cultural brand of Gradiška and a recognizable event on the theatre scene of Republika Srpska and the region. He said that Gradiška has once again shown that it can bring together a large audience and high-quality theatre ensembles. The play “Mermaid and Victoria” is a contemporary comedy directed by Željko Stjepanović, featuring actors Jovanka Božović, Dragana Marić, and Admir Mešić. Artistic director of the City Theatre of Gradiška, Zlatan Vidović, said he is proud of the entire team that worked on the play, as well as of the “Ljubica” Festival, which has been successfully organized in Gradiška for the fourth year in a row and attracts audiences from the region. Director of the City Theatre of Gradiška Ćirić recalled that the Theatre Festival of Republika Srpska in Gradiška is dedicated to the first theatre actress in BiH, Ljubica Lazić Stefanović. He said that the audience in the competitive program will see performances by the National Theatre of Republika Srpska, the City Theatre “Jazavac” from Banja Luka, the City Theatre of Prijedor, and the City Theatre “Semberija” from Bijeljina, while the review program will feature a play from the “Zvezdara Teatar” in Belgrade. The festival runs until May 21.