National Theatre

The dramaturg who has just taken up one of the most esteemed positions at the Serbian National Theatre in Belgrade, namely head of the acting department, is young. Just 30 years of age. The National Theatre, on the other hand, is anything but young. With 150 years of tradition behind it, it is a rather conservative emblem of a country that itself remains rather conservative.

This debut novel by up-and-coming Serbian playwright and author Tanja Šljivar weaves together the biography of a young woman with that of the institution she works for – as the two of them negotiate a year that for the protagonist begins as a triumph and ends as a failure. Both have also been heavily shaped by the events of history, the collapse of Yugoslavia, and war. And they are both witness to all the stories produced every day by the eccentric employees of the theatre.

With a keen eye and a sharp tongue, Tanja Šljivar depicts a fast-paced and chaotic setting and plays with numerous genres, from dark comedy to autofiction and dramatic scenes that could be taken straight from the stage. Clear-eyed and with a good dose of caustic humour, she shines a spotlight on the cosmos of the Serbian National Theatre, and all the people trying their luck there.

A refreshing, original debut novel full of tempo and playfulness that examines, with analytical precision, the relevance of cultural institutions, the conditions under which art is produced, and the theatre as a microcosm. A novel about what it is to be devoted to art, and what art can take out of you if you let it.