Application deadline: May 31, 2026 (23:59h)

SARAJEVO THEATRE SHOWCASE 2026

Part of the New Theatre Market (NTM) Project

Following the highly successful first edition of the Residency Programme in 2025, Sarajevo Theatre Showcase is happy to announce the Open Call for the Residency Programme – Producers 2026.

This year, the Producers Residency continues under the mentorship of renowned theatre producer Branislav Cerović, who returns as Head of Studies after leading the first edition of the programme.

The Sarajevo Theatre Showcase (STS), organised by Sarajevo War Theatre – SARTR (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in partnership with Heartefact Foundation (Serbia), Ulysses Theatre (Croatia), Para Film and Theatre (Norway), Binario Vivo (Italy), and Realstage (Bosnia and Herzegovina), continues to develop the Residency Programme as one of the core training strands of the New Theatre Market (NTM) project.

STS is a curated regional platform connecting contemporary artistic production with international touring, co-production, and collaboration opportunities. This year’s edition will take place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from September 11 to 13, 2026, while the Residency Programme – Producers will run from September 7 to 14, 2026 (including arrival and departure days).

About the Producers Residency

The Producers Residency is conceived as a practice-oriented professional laboratory focused on contemporary theatre production, strategic thinking, international collaboration and the role of the producer as a central figure in shaping artistic projects. Led by Branislav Cerović, the programme combines workshops, case studies, collaborative sessions, study visits and practical discussions grounded in real production environments and concrete examples from the regional and international theatre field.

Rather than functioning as a traditional academic programme, the residency places participants directly inside the Sarajevo Theatre Showcase ecosystem, where they work in dialogue with directors, playwrights, critics and international theatre professionals attending STS.

Participants will spend more than a week inside an intensive full-day professional environment built around:

• project development and production strategies
• international co-productions and networking
• touring and distribution models
• funding and financial planning
• decision-making and crisis management
• practical examples from real production processes
• performances, talks and professional STS events
• direct exposure to international theatre professionals

The programme places particular focus on practice-based learning and professional exchange, encouraging participants to critically reflect on their own producing approaches while developing new tools, perspectives and connections.

Alongside track-specific sessions, participants will also attend selected shared sessions and professional activities together with the Directors Residency, Critics Residency and Atelier for Playwrights participants, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange and future collaborations.

Head of Studies – Branislav Cerović (Slovenia)

Branislav Cerović is a theatre producer with over 25 years of experience. He has worked on more than 100 diverse theatre projects, from children’s plays and post-drama theatre projects to large-scale musicals, working with major institutions across Southeast Europe. Currently based in Ljubljana, he works as executive producer at Mini teater, continuing his long-standing engagement with culture, fashion, and the arts. 

Eligibility

Applications are open to emerging theatre producers from: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

The residency is intended for producers and cultural workers at the beginning of their professional development, including students of production, arts management and related fields, recently graduated producers, early-career cultural workers, independent producers and professionals who have already realised several projects and wish to further develop their producing practice within an international collaborative environment.

We are interested in curiosity, openness to collaboration, critical thinking and the desire to actively engage with contemporary theatre production practices.

What Participation Includes

Selected participants receive:

• workshops and mentorship led by Branislav Cerović
• study visits to theatre institutions and cultural organisations in Sarajevo
• participation in shared professional sessions and discussions
• access to STS performances, talks and professional events
• networking opportunities with regional and international theatre professionals
• festival accreditation with access to the wider STS programme
• inclusion in official STS communication materials

The organisers provide:

• accommodation with breakfast
• festival lunch during programme days
• festival accreditation

Please note: travel costs are not covered by the organisers.

Participation Requirement

The Residency Programme – Producers is an intensive full-day in-person programme. Selected participants are expected to be physically present in Sarajevo for the entire duration of the residency programme, from September 7 (arrival day) to September 14, 2026 (departure day).

Due to the collaborative and practice-based nature of the programme, partial attendance is not possible.

Timeline

Application deadline: May 31, 2026 (23:59h)
Residency Programme: September 7–14, 2026
Arrival day: September 7, 2026
Departure day: September 14, 2026

All applicants will be informed about the results by email.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official online application form. Before starting the form, applicants are encouraged to check the application form and prepare all required information and materials in advance. The form includes detailed descriptions and guidance to help applicants understand what kind of responses are expected in each section.

Supporting materials are optional, but applicants may submit non-expiring links to portfolios, project materials, production documentation, videos or other relevant professional documentation. Materials should support, not replace, the written application. If links are password protected, the password must be provided. If Google Drive is used, access must be set so that the material can be viewed by anyone with the link.

Incomplete applications or applications that do not follow the submission guidelines will not be considered. For any questions regarding the application process, applicants may contact: programmes@sts.ba or adna@sts.ba 

We look forward to welcoming a new generation of theatre producers to Sarajevo Theatre Showcase 2026!