History of theatre
During the last fifty years of its existence in Banja Luka, the Children’s Theatre of Republika Srpska has produced and performed 300 premieres which have been seen by more than 3 million visitors.
Children’s Theatre of Republika Srpska from Banja Luka was established on 30th December, 1955.
The first ballet and puppet shows were performed in May and October 1956.
Since 1998 the theatre is very often a guest on many European scenes for children as well as for adults with its evening scene “Atelier 333”: Warsaw, Varna, Sofia, London, Magdeburg, Frankfurt, Moscow, Kirov, Rybinsk, Saint Petersburg, Perugia, Cremona, Thessaloniki, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Bratislava, Saint Petersburg, Abakan etc.
For its work, the Children’s Theatre has received a great number of city, republic and national recognitions in former Yugoslavia, and as the National Theatre for Children of Republic of Srpska the most important are the medals and awards:
- Medal of the first order of Njegoš, from the President of the Republika Srpska, 2002. – Golden emblem of the City of Banja Luka, 2006. – Medal of Colmurano (Italy) for its “Sad Prince”, 2002. – Medal of Duke Podlijevski (Lomza, Poland) for its “Little Elf”, 2001.
- Grand Prix of Yugoslavia, Kotor for the show “Sad Prince”, author Predrаg Bjelošević, director Biserka Kolevska, 1998.
- Grand Prix at the International Puppet Festival in Kragujevac, for the play “Little Elf “directed by Slavčo Malenov, 2001.
- Special Award at the International Festival of Theatre for Children in Subotica, 1993. – Special Award of the Polish theatre experts and journalists at the International Puppet Festival in Bialsko Biala, 2000.
- Award for technical performance and direction at International Puppet Festival “Golden Dolphin” in Varna (Bulgaria), 1999.
- 32nd BITEF participation between top ten European shows for adults, with its “Sad Prince” in Belgrade 1998.
- Grand prix – Yoran Radmilovic Days, “Animal Farm”, 2008. – Grand prix – East Sarajevo, “Pinocchio”, 2008. – Grand prix – Theatre Meetings Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brčko, “Metro – stories from all over the world, “directed by Jovica Pavić, 2008. – Grand prix – Small Scene, East Sarajevo, “Folklore Magic”, 2008. – Grand Prix – International Festival of Theatres, Subotica, “Folklore Magic”, 2009.
Based on a well-known show “Sad Prince” written by Predrag Bjelošević and directed by Biserka Kolevska, a version of the television show was made in 1999 in Sofia
Since the year of 2002 Children’s Theatre is the organizer of the traditional International Festival of Children’s Theatres and each year it gathers theatres from a dozen European countries.
Within the Children’s Theatre of Republika Srpska there are also a Museum of Theatre puppets and an Exhibition and Gallery salon.
Museum of puppets
Dear visitors, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the only Museum of Theatre Puppet in Southeastern Europe and to see more than two hundred puppets used in professional theatrical performances and made in workshops in Sofia, Prague, Berlin, Minsk, Warsaw, Banja Luka and other European cities.
