Novi Sad

title: "Sterijino Pozorje in the Yugoslav Context: Golden Age of Theatre" category: "History" category_display: "Historical Themes and Former Festivals" date: "2026-08-07" description: "A scholarly-popular work and academic review on the topic: Sterijino Pozorje in the Yugoslav Context: Golden Age of Theatre."

Sterijino Pozorje in the Yugoslav Context: Golden Age of Theatre

Novi Sad, a city of rich history and culture, was, during the Yugoslav period, the epicenter of one of the most significant theatrical events in the region – Sterijino Pozorje. Established in 1956 as the Yugoslav Drama Festival, Pozorje was not merely a showcase of the finest theatrical achievements, but also a crucial social mechanism that reflected, shaped, and critically examined the complex tapestry of Yugoslav society. Its "golden age," coinciding with the period of greatest cultural and political stability of the SFRY, represented the pinnacle of theatrical creativity and intellectual exchange, echoes of which are still present today, albeit in a significantly altered context.

Genesis and the Vision of Yugoslav Drama

Sterijino Pozorje was founded to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth and the 100th anniversary of the death of Jovan Sterija Popović, one of the greatest Serbian playwrights and a founder of modern Serbian theatre. The founders' vision was multifaceted: on one hand, to preserve and nurture the memory of Sterija's oeuvre and his contribution, and on the other, to create a platform for the promotion and affirmation of contemporary Yugoslav drama ¹. In the post-war period, as Yugoslavia sought its cultural identity and path between the Eastern and Western blocs, culture, and particularly theatre, acquired a specific role in building a new, socialist society. From its very inception, Sterijino Pozorje was conceived as a festival exclusively dedicated to domestic drama, which distinguished it from many other European festivals and emphasized its mission – to stimulate original Yugoslav dramatic creativity.

Sterijino Pozorje as a Chronicler of Yugoslav Drama

During its golden age, roughly situated from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s, Sterijino Pozorje became an indispensable gathering for all relevant theatre artists, critics, and theoreticians from across Yugoslavia. Through the selection of performances, often premiere stagings of new dramatic texts, the festival became a reliable chronicler and barometer of contemporary dramatic writing and scenic tendencies. On the stages of Novi Sad's theatres, new aesthetics were born, genre boundaries were re-examined, and experimentation with form flourished. From classical realism to the absurd, from historical dramas to contemporary political pieces, Pozorje offered insight into the richness and diversity of the Yugoslav theatrical scene. Many names that later became pillars of Yugoslav and Serbian theatre were discovered, among playwrights (Dušan Kovačević, Mirko Kovač, Bora Ćosić, Vida Ognjenović), as well as among directors and actors ².

"Sterijino Pozorje was not merely an art exhibition, but also a kind of living parliament of Yugoslav culture. Every performance, every dialogue on stage, every debate in the foyer, was a reflection and re-examination of our shared life, our dilemmas and aspirations. It was a school of freedom within frameworks that, it is true, occasionally narrowed, but still offered space for authentic expression." – (from the recollections of a theatre critic from the 1980s)

Social Impact and Political Dimension

Beyond its artistic significance, Sterijino Pozorje also possessed a profound social and political dimension. As a state-sponsored festival, it enjoyed support and funding, but was simultaneously subject to ideological oversight. Nevertheless, during the period of liberalization in the 1970s and 1980s, the festival succeeded in building a reputation as a place where social realities could be critically examined with boldness. Plays frequently, in subtle or less subtle ways, questioned official ideology, corruption, bureaucratization, and national tensions. Theatre, thanks to the relative autonomy of artistic expression, often managed to articulate what was suppressed in other spheres of public life. This gave the festival particular weight and importance, making it a kind of mirror in which Yugoslavia reflected itself with all its virtues and flaws. Dialogue about performances, often fiery forums, and round tables were an integral part of the festival, fostering critical thinking not only about theatre but also about society as a whole.

Internationalization and Global Recognition

Although the primary focus was on domestic drama, Sterijino Pozorje was not isolated from international trends. Through visits by foreign experts, critics, and selectors, as well as through its informative programs and exhibitions, the festival served as an important channel for the exchange of ideas with the European and world theatre scene. In this context, Sterijino Pozorje also acted as a cultural ambassador for Yugoslavia, showcasing its artistic vitality and openness to the world. Its awards, the Sterija Awards, quickly became the most prestigious theatre awards in Yugoslavia, a benchmark of success and quality, encouraging artists to strive for excellence ³.

Zenith and Gradual Transformation

The golden age of Sterijino Pozorje reached its zenith in the 1980s, when performances that shaped an entire theatrical era graced its stages. However, with the escalation of political tensions and the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the festival faced new challenges. The loss of the unified Yugoslav cultural space, the cessation of communication between republics, and drastic funding cuts led to a radical re-evaluation of the festival's former concept. Although the festival has continued to exist and endures to this day, its "Yugoslav" dimension, central to its golden age, irrevocably vanished. Lost was that unique context in which an entire nation, through theatrical art, confronted itself and its identity.

Conclusion

Sterijino Pozorje in the Yugoslav context, especially during its golden age, was far more than a mere theatre festival. It was an intellectual hub, a proving ground for artistic experimentation and critical thought, and a powerful social catalyst. Its role in affirming Yugoslav drama, shaping theatrical aesthetics, and fostering critical thought remains indelible. Although the contemporary Sterijino Pozorje, adapted to new socio-political circumstances, remains an important event, we nostalgically recall a time when it was both witness and actor in an entire epoch, making Novi Sad and Yugoslavia a vital part of the European and global theatrical map. The golden age of theatre at Sterijino Pozorje remains permanently recorded as a period of exceptional artistic freedom and relevance, whose lessons and legacy continue to inspire new generations today.

Sources and Archival Material

• Sterijino Pozorje Archive, Novi Sad.
• Collected Papers from Sterijino Pozorje Symposia (period 1960-1990).
• Letopis Matice Srpske (Chronicle of Matica Srpska), articles and critiques on Sterijino Pozorje (period 1956-1991).
• Newspaper articles from Politika, Borba, Dnevnik, Večernje Novosti (period 1960-1990).
• Petrović, Vladimir. Sterijino Pozorje: Chronicle of an Era (1956-1991). Matica Srpska, Novi Sad, 2003.
• Lazić, Radoslav. Serbian Dramaturgy 1918-1995. Novi Sad, 1996.
• Encyclopedia of the Serbian National Theatre. Novi Sad, 2005.