SISTERS IN ARMS

Theatrical essay about WWI

Sisters in Arms/Sestre po oružju

  • Co production of Hleb Teatar (Belgrade, Serbia) and Ake Ake Theatre ( Dunedin, New Zealand)

“Sister in Arms “is based on the author`s belief that history is a kaleidoscope made of individual destinies and personal truths and that the theatre has the power to narrate history directly through a joint ritual by the audience and the performers. It`s purpose is to heal, and in this case to attempt to unmask the war phenomenon in all its complexity. The principal subject-matter is World War One in the Balkans. Through the eyes of active participants – Sofija Jovanović, from Belgrade, fighter and heroine of the Balkan wars, doctor Jessie Scott, from New Zealand, the first female military surgeon who attended to Serbian soldiers and many others – we see the war from a different and more personal angle, the angle of a woman-creator, in the hotbed of destruction and death. The stories in the production, which the authors collected after a long research, cover also the stories of Maori fighters in the Balkans and testimonies of ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) and Serbian soldiers who took part in the war. This international cooperation includes a number of original songs composed for the piece, that are performed live on stage, physical theatre and dance. sisters   Text, dramaturgy and direction: Sanja Krsmanović Tasić Music: Jugoslav Hadžić Performers: Jugoslav Hadžić, Sanja Krsmanović Tasić, Jessica Latton, Rhys Latton and Anastasia Tasić Musician: Demir Ahmetović, Tenzin Mullin, Sam Atkins The production uses texts by Antonije Đurić, Rebecca West,and text written by the cast. Photography: Allen Dove and Jelena Janković   sisters

  • Premier: 24th September, 17.00 Bitef Teatar, Belgrade, as part of the Bitef Polyphony Festival
  • Performed : Pozorište Mladih, Novi Sad (Serbia), Arts Festival Dunedin and Nelson Art Festival, New Zealand
  • Partners : Bitef Theatre and Association of Drama Artists of Serbia-UDUS

Supported by Creative New Zealand WW100 Centenary fund, Otago Community Trust and the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia