Vujović: The City Theatre Budva Has Become One of the Most Recognizable Places of Artistic Encounter in Southeast Europe

The City Theatre Budva has shaped the cultural identity of the city, enriched the cultural map of Montenegro, and become one of the most recognizable places of artistic encounter in Southeast Europe, said Minister of Culture and Media Dr. Tamara Vujović. "As someone who deeply appreciates the semiotics of the space we are in, I must point out that this festival has succeeded in the most difficult task, successfully integrating the 'ancient code' of Budva into contemporary models of artistic action," Vujović stated. According to her, the motto of this year's jubilee, "Trusi i trepeti," is a symbolic link to the dramatic opus of Vida Ognjenović, as well as the ontological definition of theater that survives despite all social upheavals, preserving what is most noble in humans. She believes that from Aristotle's understanding of tragedy, where the audience undergoes purification through intense emotional experience, to today's theater, one of the most important debates in the history of theater has developed: whether the stage should primarily introduce us to the depicted world or enable us to view that world from a new perspective. She notes that during its existence, the City Theatre has built an impressive artistic memory through productions that remain inscribed in the cultural history of the region, through performances that have become cult and whose artistic values are still remembered today. The minister mentioned some of the cult performances of the City Theatre that remain in memory, but also emphasized the importance of continuity in artistic creation and presentation through the festival, wishing the City Theatre a successful year of jubilee.