Part of the ensemble of the National Theatre in Belgrade refuses to accept the Rules of Work, which prohibit them from expressing political views on stage. At the same time, they demand the dismissal of the chairman of the Board of Directors of this institution, Dragoslav Bokan. Tonight they also organized a warning strike.
“Management out” and “Leave, Bokan” could be heard in front of the National Theatre in Belgrade, where employees of this institution, as well as citizens in such large numbers that they blocked traffic in the city center, expressed their protest.
The actors announced for tonight a simple warning strike that was supposed to take place in the foyer of the National Theatre, ahead of the play scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
However, in the meantime, the National Theatre announced that, in agreement with the Ministry of Culture, it was decided that – due to shortcomings related to the fire protection system in this theatre – the venue would be closed for three weeks.
The actors did gather this evening in the foyer, after which they moved to the square in front of the National Theatre, where a large number of citizens joined them.
In front of the National Theatre, the artists of this house are holding several banners.
One reads “people’s, not progressive,” another demands the dismissal of the chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Theatre, Dragoslav Bokan, which the actors already called for a few nights ago.
The reason is a new provision in the old Rules of Work that prohibits employees of this theatre from expressing political views.
In the next three weeks, no performances will be held here, as the alleged shortcomings related to fire protection are to be repaired, a possibility that was also announced by the chairman of the Board of Directors, Dragoslav Bokan, last night in pro-government media.
He said there were 60 deficiencies, that he wanted to prevent danger for both the audience and the employees, and that he would insist with the Ministry of Culture that the National Theatre be closed in October.
“This information about the lack of safety at the National Theatre could be a reason for someone, for their own motives, to create some kind of chaos in which all of us would suffer,” Bokan said.
The deficiencies Bokan mentioned are not new, the actors said earlier. They stated that they themselves had warned about them, but instead of being fixed during the summer, the information was used, they believe, as a way to silence them.
They declared that this will not happen.
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Source:N1, Foto: Filip Krainčanić / Nova.rs