From the Other Side – December 4-14

ABOUT

We live in a time of relentless and continuous warfare. When the history of humanity is remembered through war, peace appears to be an unattainable goal. When hostilities cease, the resulting trauma and memories linger in the devastated societies, shackled by fear. Under neoliberal capitalism, postwar societies are no longer seen as worthy investments – peace no longer pays.

“The Balkans” is a political and cultural construct, a former warzone that, following the traumas of the late 20th century, entered the 21st century amid ongoing tensions. The region continues its attempt to shift into a phase of development, positioned, as always, at the crossroads of cultures – East and West, the South and the North. It consistently longs to articulate its own identity, an identity that is inherently unstable and shaped by a multitude of factors: ethnic, religious, gender, sexual, and beyond.

The other side of this is the Balkans art context – a space of new, vital and, as we believe, fully relevant theatrical life.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE unpacks the phenomenon of Otherness. It addresses the position of women amidst the alarming rise in femicide in the Balkans, the struggles of queer individuals facing institutionalized violence, the consequences of environmental disasters, and persistent national and religious divisions. The showcase presents a society struggling to confront its collective trauma and take responsibility for past crimes, often remaining trapped in narratives of war. It critically examines resistance to the integration and acceptance of minority groups who do not fit into the majority’s ideal of homogeneity. FROM THE OTHER SIDE provides a platform for artists who challenge their social contexts, advocating for freedom in societies that remain closed to Others.

At the heart of our program is the desire to make space for voices long forgotten or deliberately ignored — a reminder that we are all part of a shared global struggle. Even when we are not at the center of attention, Balkan artists speak truths that resonate far beyond their borders. 

La MaMa Experimental Theatre and My Balkans, from New York, together as producers, stand behind FROM THE OTHER SIDE, Reimagining Theatre from The Balkans, Edition 1.0, a unique undertaking to happen in New York City from December 4-14, 2025, when La MaMa will become a home to the artists from the Balkans. This showcase will primarily consist of two theatre performances – created in their respective local context, all for the first time shown in the United States. It will also include staged readings of three contemporary plays from the Balkans, followed by conversations and discussions that will enable the presentations to become part of a living dialogue in the context of New York City. Video presentations of three exceptional theatre productions will offer additional insights into the Balkan theatre scene .

Reimagining the Theater From Balkans invites us to open ourselves to new themes, poetics and approaches to theatre performance, and to reconsider its political context through a different lens.

SELECTORS’ NOTE

While creating this program, our central aim was to establish a space for dialogue. In that spirit, every component of the program is designed to encourage reflection and discussion — not only about the Balkans and its theatrical landscape, but more importantly, about the role of public discourse, and the understanding of theater as a space for open debate and engagement with the pressing issues of our time.
Through the program’s four segments, we have created opportunities for local audiences and the professional community to engage with what we believe to be a relevant and representative sample of theater from the region.

Each section has been thoughtfully curated to address not only the aesthetic and political questions explored in contemporary Balkan theater, but also the practical challenges — the technical and economical (im)possibilities — of realizing such an event, regardless of its significance. We are pointing out the problems of art and politics in neoliberal capitalism.
Accordingly, the Live Performances section features two productions that offer distinct perspectives on themes of collective and individual memory, tradition and the past. The Stage Readings segment presents a selection of texts that showcase the formal and poetic qualities of contemporary drama recognized across the broader European context. The third segment, Performances on video or projections of archival recordings, features important 21st-century productions by some of the region’s most prominent directors, offering a rare glimpse into significant theatrical achievements. Finally, the Round Table Discussions will serve as a platform for dialogue on the intersections of art and politics as it is introduced in the chosen art works.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE – Reimagining the Theater of the Balkans 1.0 marks a starting point — an invitation to explore the possibilities of this kind of cultural exchange within our current political moment. It also serves as a reminder that many stories and struggles continue to unfold across the world, often in places from which we rarely hear, or choose not to look at. One such stories is the ongoing struggle in the Balkans — a region still marked by the rise of right-wing politics, social violence, and systemic discrimination. From the other side of ignorance is listening. From the other side of silence is the act of speaking one’s truth. From the other side of inaction is dialogue. Let’s reimagine our side — through theater.

Beka Vučo, Dimitrije Kokanov and Natasha Tripney