Drama Ensemble National Theatre in Belgrade will enter tonight (October 3), before the beginning of the performances on both stages, in a one-hour show strike warnings, due to the entry into force of the new rulebook on the work of that institution, the president of the Singlus Actors' Union, Darko Tomović, told FoNet.
Rules in practice, employees of the National Theater are prohibited from publicly expressing their political views.
The warning strike will start around 18:30, and the actors will leave around 19:00 greetings gathered at the protest in front of the National Theater, to which the students of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts invited as a sign of support.
How Bokan adds to the strike at the National Theater
On the day when the warning strike was announced, the new president of the Board of Directors of the National Theater, Dragoslav Bokan, announced the potential closure of this institution during October - due to poor fire protection.
He was a guest on Friday morning on Kurir TV and said that the management received a report and information about fire protection in the theater and that the situation is catastrophic.
"We haven't had a license for years, the former administration didn't provide it. There are more than 60 objections on the topic of fire protection and we are in great danger. We will insist to the Minister of Culture that the National Theater be closed in October and that instead of performances, we ensure normal work, life and safety for everyone there," said Bokan.
Defense of the dignity of the National Theatre
Actor Hadži Nenad Maričić explained that the one-hour strike will be before the performances and that then the audience will be informed about the union's demands.
"That space is also open for dialogue between the two sides. We will try to defend the dignity of the National Theater," said Maričić.
Playwright Željko Hubač also said that before the performances on both stages tonight, the audience will be informed of the reasons for the warning strike.
"Part of the Choir and Ballet ensemble will also be there, we will tell the reasons for the warning strike, we will inform the audience of the reasons, and the performances will be delayed a little. We are ready to show solidarity - if any of us are attacked, we will all stand by him", said Hubač in a guest appearance on N1.
Students in the blockade of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts and actors from the "Boško Buha" theater called for a gathering in support of the employees of the National Theater on Friday, October 3 at 19 p.m.
Employee requests
On Wednesday, October 1st, Drama National Theatre started the new season on the "Raša Plaović" stage with the play "Little things that mean life" directed by Andrej Nosov.
At the end of the play, Drama ensemble told the audience what he thought about Fr Rulebook on work discipline which prohibits employees from publicly expressing political views, as well as the new Management Board headed by Dragoslav Bokan.
The Drama Ensemble of the National Theater presented three demands - the immediate withdrawal of the new Rulebook, the dismissal of the Board of Directors headed by Dragoslav Bokan and the review of his statements regarding the reputation of the employees of the National Theatre, and that the Government of the Republic of Serbia review the work of the Minister of Culture.
"The rulebook should improve the work process, and here it is a tool for controlling and abolishing freedom of speech. In this social context, it indicates that this is another example where this government chooses a totalitarian system where it will influence all segments of society, to establish complete control, where the will of one man will rule. That is the definition of totalitarianism and we cannot observe it in any other way than from that context," Maričić told N1.
Students and colleagues with employees of the National Theater
At the end of the performance of the play "39 Steps" on Thursday (October 2), the acting ensemble of the Boško Buha Theater called on the audience to support the actors of the National Theater at a protest on Friday at 19 p.m.
"On behalf of the acting ensemble of the Boško Buha Theater, I want to invite you to support the acting ensemble of the National Theater tomorrow at 19 p.m.," actor Andrija Milošević said at the end of the performance, which the audience in the full hall followed with thunderous applause and ovations.
The Association of Dramatic Artists of Serbia (UDUS) supported the Drama ensemble of the National Theater in Belgrade and called on all artists and the audience to support their colleagues in that theater who announced a warning strike tonight at 19 p.m.
In a statement, the UDUS states that in recent months, they have witnessed a series of unpleasant events in the theaters of Serbia and the ignominy of the authorities. The association emphasized that it consistently supports all colleagues who advocate and fight for the survival and dignity of the branch.
The students of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts during the blockade called for support for the actors of the National Theater.
"Let's support the Drama Ensemble of the National Theater on October 3 at 19 p.m., because on that day a shameful regulation comes into force that the Drama Ensemble rejects and resolutely rejects. Accordingly, the main demand of the Drama Ensemble of the National Theater is the removal of the president of the Board of Directors of NP Dragoslav Bokan", wrote FDU students in the blockade on Instagram.
The students pointed out that the people must defend their National Theater so that the National Theater can maintain culture.
"Let's defend the dignity of art and the dignity of workers. Let's defend the National Theater," the students said.
Disciplining employees in the theater
In article three point seven of the aforementioned Rulebook on Labor Discipline, it is written that an employee does not respect labor discipline if "while performing the duties of the Theater, publicly, verbally, with symbols and gestures, they express their political or other commitment that is not related to the performance of the Theater's duties, then publicly communicate political or other content, call for activities that have a political character or are not related to the performance of the Theater's duties, or point out symbols or features the highlighting of which is prohibited by law."
Rulebook in article six provides for dismissal for non-compliance with the prescribed rules.
The employees of the National Theater believe that the Rulebook is not in accordance with the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, and they link it to Dragoslav Bokan, the new president of the Board of Directors of the National Theatre.
Source: N1/FoNet/Vreme/Kurir
This October, "Vreme" celebrates and honors - as much as 35 percent discount for our 35th birthday! Valid for semi-annual and annual subscriptions. Subscribe now!
