INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL OPENS, 14 PLAYS TO BE PERFORMED

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 5 /SRNA/ - The Minister of Education and Culture Borivoje Golubović opened tonight, at the Children’s Theatre of Republika Srpska in Banja Luka, the 24th International Festival of Children’s Theatre, saying he is particularly pleased that plays from 12 countries, including Russia, will be performed.

"Children are our greatest treasure, so in the upcoming period we will give our maximum contribution for children to develop culturally and in every other sense," Golubović told the press.

The director of the Children’s Theatre, Ljiljana Labović Marinković, highlighted that the festival received strong interest from audiences and other theatres, and that by October 11, when the festival ends, 14 plays 12 countries will be performed.

"We are proving that theatre is strong and powerful in Republika Srpska. When we go on tours elsewhere we win awards, and now we prove we are good hosts. In this way we build the future for children of Republika Srpska," Labović said.

The festival’s selector, Duško Mazalica, stated that this year the Children’s Theatre received the highest number of applications so far.

"For the first time we received applications from 50 theatres in 24 countries. That raises the quality level of the festival," Mazalica said.

The festival’s main sponsors are the president of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Education and Culture of Srpska, the Ministry of Culture of Serbia, and Banja Luka City.

At the International Festival, the following awards will be presented: Grand Prix for best overall play, best direction, scenography, music, five equal acting awards, as well as the special festival award "Dragan Banjac" for the most comedic acting portrayal.