Sarajevo War Theatre (SARTR)

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Sarajevo War Theatre (SARTR) was founded on 17 May 1992 on the initiative of Dubravko Bibanovic, Gradimir Gojer, Djordje Mackic and Safet Plakalo. Actors and associates of the three existing professional theatres in Sarajevo, which had ceased all activities at the beginning of the war, gathered around SARTR and proceeded to give some 2000 performances during the four years of siege. In January 1993 SARTR was officially recognised by the Sarajevo City Assembly as a public institution of special significance for the defence of Sarajevo. Its spiritus movens and director, Safet Plakalo, has often spoken of SARTR as Sarajevo's spiritual weapon against the surrealism of war, summarising its charter in the catch-cry 'theatre against death'. Despite limited resources, SARTR is today a successful professional theatre company with a number of international co-productions, appearances and awards under its belt.