Serbian National Theatre - The Oldest Theatre in Serbia

Srpsko narodno pozorište

The Serbian National Theater is the oldest professional theater of the Serbian people and the leading cultural institution in Novi Sad. Today, the most important works of Serbian and world literature, opera and ballet are shown within this theater. The works of the National Theater must be part of your tour through the capital of Vojvodina.

Theater history
It was founded back in 1861 and has never stopped working since then. The theater has an exceptional historical significance because at the time when it was founded on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, not a single theater in the languages of the Yugoslav peoples operated. Theatrical art was something completely new and unusual in this area, because our culture has always favored folk lyric and epic poetry and prose.

The creation of the Theater is connected to the activity of the Serbian Reading Room in Novi Sad, which founded the Society that promoted literature and culture. As far as certain personalities are concerned, Svetozar Miletić and Jova Zmaj are the most important for the founding of the Theater, and the original cast consisted of: Dimitrije and Draginja Ružić, Laza Telečki, Žarka Savić. The heroines of our theaters made their first acting steps here: Mira Banjac and Rahela Ferrari.

Serbian National Theater today
It was not until the 1980s that the theater received a new building, which has remained his home to this day. It is a recognizable white marble building, located in the center of Novi Sad, on the Theater Square. It covers over 20,000 square meters and has the largest theater stage in all of Serbia. It is equipped with rehearsal halls for choir and orchestra, ballet hall and a large number of stage-technical workshops. Today, the Serbian National Theater has three artistic units: Drama, Opera and Ballet. The most famous plays organized by the Theater are:

Autobiography
Anika's time
Deobe
Bohemia
Carmina burana
Rigoletto
Greek Zorba
The lady with the Camellias

In addition to performances, the Theater is turning into a center of events in Novi Sad during the Sterijino Pozorje festival, which is traditionally held here every June.

How to get to the Theater?
The National Theater is located in the very center of the city, at the address: Pozorišni trg 1. If you go by car, you can reach the pedestrian zone on Jevrejska Street, at the beginning of which is the Pozorište. The best option for getting to Poorište is a walk through the center of Novi Sad and a beautiful pedestrian zone.