Chamber Theatre 55 celebrates 71 years of existence, from Little Theatre to an important stage in BiH

(Patria) - Chamber Theatre 55, then "Little Theatre", began its work on March 7, 1955. It was founded by Jurislav Korenić (1914–1974). Following new theatrical trends in Europe at the time, Chamber Theatre 55 brought freshness and innovation to theatrical expression.

Numerous theatre houses and troupes followed its path, and the theatre introduced a new form of dramaturgy – the theatre of the absurd, anti-drama, and "new drama". Its stage featured works by Samuel Beckett, Alfred Jarry, Jean Genet, Eugène Ionesco, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, and other authors whose theatrical expression stemmed from the "absurd feeling of life".

Chamber Theatre 55 offered actors a theatrical space with a ring-shaped auditorium surrounding the stage, unlike the classic stage that separates the audience from the performers. This enabled more intimate, natural, and sincere acting. Although the history of this theatre house is not exceptionally long, "it is undoubtedly richer, more attractive, and more significant than decades of routine, cold schematism, and careless stagnation," as noted by a prominent critic.

Over the years, Chamber Theatre 55 has remained consistent with its avant-garde approach, continuously exploring the latest dramatic trends and staging works by authors such as Bertolt Brecht, George Bernard Shaw, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Harold Pinter, Luigi Pirandello, Federico García Lorca, Tadeusz Różewicz, Mikhail Bulgakov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, William Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, Jean-Paul Sartre, Václav Havel, and others.

At the same time, the theatre promoted domestic authors, premiering works by Zlatko Topčić, Miodrag Žalica, Mirko Kovač, Safet Plakal, Nedžad Ibrišimović, Sead Fetahagić, Dževad Karahasan, and many others. Chamber Theatre 55 staged many of these authors before the wider public discovered them, giving them the opportunity for their artistic expression to reach audiences before they gained wider recognition.

By decision of the theatre council, in 1970, the name "Little Theatre" was changed to "Chamber Theatre 55", which it bears to this day.

Chamber Theatre 55 during the war (1992–1995) During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–1995), Chamber Theatre 55 was led by director and producer Gradimir Gojer. While Sarajevo was under siege, the theatre was at the forefront of cultural resistance to aggression, providing a civilizational response to the barbarism to which the city was exposed. Despite the difficult circumstances, Chamber Theatre 55 achieved 28 premieres and realized 941 cultural programs, including repeat performances, exhibitions, concerts, book promotions, and matinees. The repertoire remained consistent with artistic standards, without compromising with ideological, national, religious, or political influences.

Chamber Theatre 55 in numbers From 1955 to 2025, Chamber Theatre 55 has performed 323 premieres and over 10,000 repeat performances. Works by 225 authors, playwrights, and co-authors of dramatic works have been performed. More than 700 actors and other performers have participated in projects. It has toured in more than 20 countries outside the former Yugoslavia, participated in numerous festivals worldwide, in the region, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and won over 600 awards and recognitions. Among the most significant awards is the Sixth of April Award of the City of Sarajevo, which Chamber Theatre 55 received in 1975.

Some of the countries where Chamber Theatre 55 has toured include: Mexico, Russia (USSR), Australia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Colombia, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Albania, Slovakia, Austria, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Bulgaria, and many others.

Performances with over 100 showings:

Nikolaj – "Umri muški" – over 530 showings (in repertoire), over 35 years of playing.

D. Mihanović – "Žaba" – 280 showings.

Safet Kafedžić – monodrama "Po suncu ti meni hodio" – 369 showings.

Božidar Ljumović Ziba – "Rucante" – over 139 showings.

M. Shizgal – "Ljubav" – over 211 showings.

W. Shakespeare „HAMLET IN THE VILLAGE OF MRDUŠA DONJA“ 179 showings

I. Wilkvist – "Helver's Night" – 220 showings (in repertoire), over 20 years of playing.

M. Laszlo – "Radnja na uglu" – 102 showings.

B. Lalić – "Mirna Bosna" – over 127 showings (in repertoire).

Chamber Theatre 55 continues its rich tradition, remaining a symbol of artistic excellence, innovation, and courage on the theatrical stage of Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.

For the archive of Chamber Theatre 55, its rich and credible content, accessible to all theatre lovers, both employees and the public, credit goes to colleague Munever Karšić, who for many years, precisely 38, has been archiving, collecting, and sorting materials.