Sterijino Pozorje | Tourist Calendar of Serbia

Sterijino Pozorje is a multi-day theater event that has been held every year for over half a century at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad.

It is probably the largest festival of national drama and competitive theater and, in addition to theatrical performances, it includes various programs and workshops for students of performing arts schools.

The festival was established in 1956 as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth, and the 100th anniversary of the death, of one of the greatest Serbian playwrights, Jovan Sterija Popović. The main goal of the festival, as defined at that time, was to promote theatrical art and stimulate the development of dramatic literature. Among those who initiated the establishment of the festival and defined its activities were many prominent figures of that time, including the Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić.

Jovan Sterija Popović was born in Vršac in a Greek-Serbian family. He studied in his hometown, then in Pest and Temišvar, and pursued law studies in Kežmarok. In his early youth, he fell in love with theater and dedicated himself to writing. He worked as a lawyer while also teaching Latin. He published over 60 scientific papers, including textbooks in various scientific fields, and for several years he was the head of the Ministry of Education.

He is credited with the first act for the protection of cultural monuments in Serbia, introducing gymnastics into regular school curriculum, and initiating the establishment of institutions such as the Academy of Sciences, the National Museum, the National Library, and the first theater in Belgrade. Sterija is considered the founder of Serbian drama and comedy, and his most famous works include "Laža i paralaža" ("Deception and Falsehood"), "Pokondirena tikva" ("The Miserly Pumpkin"), and "Tvrdica" ("The Miser").

The festival program of Sterijino Pozorje includes two selections: National Drama and Theater, which are the competitive selection, and the International Selection "Krugovi" ("Circles"). Sterija Awards in the national selection are given for the best performance, contemporary play, directing, set design, costume, stage music, acting, and special award. An integral part of Pozorje is the "Okrugli sto" ("Round Table"), where open discussions about the performances in both selections take place.

A special part of the festival is the Youth Theater of Pozorje. It is a meeting of students from performing arts schools in Serbia and the region. This program was established in 1973 to bring together students from the four high schools that existed in the country at that time. In addition to their theater performances, it includes various workshops. Sterijino Pozorje has often been an opportunity for young artists to take their first steps on stage in front of an audience.

Every year, at the end of May, visitors can watch around ten performances in the competitive section, previously selected by the jury, as well as several in the non-competitive selection. During Sterijino Pozorje, the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad hosts hundreds of participants from various theaters in Serbia and other countries in the region.

This event has been a favorite meeting place for artists and theater enthusiasts for decades. This year's 67th edition of Sterijino Pozorje will take place from May 26th to June 3rd. For more information about the festival program, you can visit the official festival website.