The Synergy #WTF festival and ‘The Role and Importance of Language in the Process of Individual and Collective Self-Identification’ symposium took place in Novi Sad

As part of the implementation of the ‘Plus’ project of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation, ‘Synergy #WTF’ festival was opened on the Pera Dobrinović stage of the Serbian National Theatre. The festival is organised by the Novi Sad Theatre/Újvidéki Színház. The festival was opened with the play ‘The Dybbuk’ by S. Ansky, directed by Chris Simion and performed by the State Jewish Theatre from Bucharest. Miloš Vučević, Mayor of Novi Sad, Dalibor Rožić, member of the City Council in charge of culture and information, and Nemanja Milenković, CEO of the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation spoke at the opening about the importance of interculturality and multiculturality in a society.

Part of the ‘Plus’ project was ‘The Role and Importance of Language in the Process of Individual and Collective Self-Identification’ international symposium held in the Gallery of Matica Srpska. During the opening ceremony of the symposium, Valentin Vencel, director of the Novi Sad Theatre/Újvidéki Színház, stressed that the main reason and aim of the symposium is to gather the people in one place where they can exchange and discuss experiences, ideas, challenges and plans. In addition to this, the people attending the symposium will send the initiative to form international association of minority theatres. The discussion was led by Dragana Varagić, actress who works in Serbia and Canada, and is thus interested in researching the identity through theatre in minority languages. She laid down the introductory guidelines of the symposium: artistic director of a theatre in diaspora as the most complex figure; addressing the audience in diaspora; raising the issue of identity in a country of work and a country from which actors come; how to create a repertoire taking into account all of the above and how to reach audience. Maia Morgenstern, famous Hollywood actress and director of the State Jewish Theatre from Bucharest, described prejudice and challenges she faces in her work, as well as how she finds inspiration in searching for the communication channel with audience: how to address them and how they can find the Jewish theatre. She stressed that the number of young people in Romania who are interested to work in their theatre and to learn Yiddish is increasing. The symposium was attended by managers of minority theatres that participate in the implementation of the Synergy festival.

The days of interculturality will continue with the First European Conference Dedicated to Minority and Local Media, the goal of which is to inform minority communities and create intercultural dialogue between national communities in Novi Sad and Europe on 16-18 November 2017.