Theater

During the siege, the continuation of normal life in the city, continuation of creativity, for all citizens of Sarajevo was as important as bread or medicine or water.

This segment in FAMA research period 1992-1996 contains the question "Could you describe a creation of yours?" and interviewees' answers. Sarajevans (in this case: interviewees) created and accepted this model in order to survive: "We were all innovators of our own methods of survival" – as put by one of the respondents.

Sources: FAMA Collection 1992-1996: Oral History, Survival Questionnaire, Sarajevo Life Magazine, archival video and photo collection.

RAVEL'S BOLERO

FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996

Dancers created a decent ballet performance. As important as it was for dancers to come to rehearsals every day, and challenge their physical and mental endurance, it was also important for the audience to come and see the performance. It was a kind of a guarantee that, after all, that dancers did live in a world where it was possible to achieve things that even in a normal life were not easy to achieve, namely: a ballet performance.

HAIR - THE MUSICAL

© FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996 (Željko Puljić)

Amila Glamočak, actress and singer: ‘We rehearsed Hair the musical with music from a tape recorder attached to small accumulator. The premiere of Hair musical was an iconic event, a great emotional valve, a sedative for the citizens of this city. Citizens were coming from the most distant parts of town, under shelling and sniper fire, to see the musical. And we played two or three shows a day because we couldn't disappoint such an audience’.

MOLIERE THEATER PLAY

FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996

Vladimir Jokanović, actor: ‘I've once had to stand before the audience in a freezing cold theater and say something like Given the low temperature here, do you want us to play or not? Believe me, no one left, they all said Please do’.

'NOH' THEATER (Directed by Haris Pašović)

FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996

Ines Fančović, actress who play main role in Noh theater, directed by Haris Pašović, coming to the theater had to cross the river, and every day she vacillated between bridges, because the crossing was so dangerous.