From Heartefact’s Playwriting Competition to the Stage: “The Woman Ties the Ponytail” Premieres at Belgrade Drama Theatre

News Competition HF drama

“The Woman Ties the Ponytail”, based on the dramatic text of the same title by Marija Rakočević, which was awarded at the 2023 Heartefact Competition for the Best Contemporary Full-Length Theatre Play in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Slovenian, Macedonian, or Montenegrin, premiered on 29 August at the Belgrade Drama Theatre.

The play is a co-production of the Belgrade Drama Theatre and Heartefact, created as part of BDT’s “New Voices” project, and directed by Maša Pavlović.

“A woman is born and dies. Iran or the Balkans – the cycle repeats itself. Across 13 scenes that trace the different stages of a woman’s life, the characters in this play examine the events, roles and spaces that shape women’s lives in patriarchal societies, repeatedly returning to the question: ‘Whose women are they?’” says director Maša Pavlović.

In 2023, the dramatic text was awarded at the Heartefact Competition for the Best Contemporary Full-Length Theatre Play in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Slovenian, Macedonian, or Montenegrin. The decision was made by a jury comprising Dubravka Vrgoč, President, and members Molina Udovički Fotez and Biljana Srbljanović.

“The Woman Ties the Ponytail” was inspired by the brutal killings of Mahsa Amini and Hadis Najafi in Iran in 2022, as well as by the women who took part in the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement. By tying back their hair and standing up against injustice, they became symbols of the struggle for freedom and dignity.

The play explores identity, freedom, violence, social expectations and the position of women in patriarchal societies. Drawing on events that have profoundly shaped contemporary Iran, the dramatic text connects different geographical and social contexts, pointing to patterns of violence and inequality that continue to resurface despite their different circumstances.

The cast features Adriana Salahović, Jana Nenadović, Doroteja Vuković, Sara Simović, Anđela Alavirević, Natalija Stepanović, Aleksa Jovčić and Ivan Petrušinski.

Creative team and collaborators

Dramaturgy: Valentina Milićević Set Design: Teodora Jonuzović Costume Design: Vera Davidović Composer: Marko Vesić Musicians: Strahinja Radojičić, Vanja Crnobrnja, Marko Vesić Music Producer and Recording: Tamara Rajinac Party Music: Nebojša Beat Nenadić Sound Editing: Valentina Milićević Video: Senka Pejić Lighting Design: Sreten Stojanov Sound Recording: Matija Nikolić Assistant Costume Designer: Maja Gigić Assistant Music Producer: Maja Gredić Stage Manager: Zoran Milojević Project Lead: Dr Biljana Ramić Production Coordinator: Bjanka Badovinac Photography: Dragana Udovičić, Đorđe Jovanović

Photo: Dragana Udovičić

Photo: Đorđe Jovanović

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As part of the final phase of the European project Fabulamundi – New Voices, in which Heartefact and partners from about ten countries have been participating over the past two and a half years, we organized a visit of students from Serbia to the partner festival Short Theatre in Rome. The visit took place from September 5 to 7, during the 20th anniversary edition of this renowned festival.

The project “Culture for Development” announces to the public the names of the projects that received support within the first call!

The grants for cultural and artistic projects are awarded for the development and implementation of socially relevant contemporary art projects that contribute to the enrichment of culture and promote diversity in artistic practices and expressions, address critical social issues, and encourage community development.

Young Artists and Activists from Serbia Visited Festivals in Pristina and Prizren as Part of Heartefact’s Visiting Program

As part of Heartefact’s Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, we organized a visit in early August to festivals in Pristina and Prizren for a group of young artists and activists from Serbia. During the visit, the participants had the opportunity to attend three major cultural events in Kosovo – the 24th edition of the DokuFest International Documentary Film Festival in Prizren, the 6th edition of the Sunny Hill music festival in Pristina, and the 5th edition of the Autostrada Biennale, an international contemporary art festival.

OPEN CALL: GRANTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

Public presentation of the play Doughnuts held as part of the New Voices workshop

On Sunday, July 6, a public presentation of the play Doughnuts (Buhtle) was held at Heartefact House, marking the conclusion of the four-day Playground for New Voices workshop. The workshop took place within the European project Fabulamundi: New Voices, which Heartefact implements with partners from nine European countries. It was led by director and playwright Patrik Lazić, in collaboration with emerging playwright Jelena Krdžavac, the acting ensemble, and translator Olja Petronić.

Exploring and developing contemporary drama through process: Doughnuts by Jelena Krdžavac in the spotlight of the Playground workshop

As part of the Fabulamundi project, implemented by Heartefact in collaboration with partners from nine European countries, the Playground workshop is taking place in Belgrade from July 3 to 6. Led by director and playwright Patrik Lazić, the workshop brings together a cast of actors and emerging playwright Jelena Krdžavac to explore and further develop her play Doughnuts (Buhtle), which was shortlisted in last year’s Heartefact Competition for Best Contemporary Socially Engaged Drama.

Culture for Democracy: Supported Projects within the Call for Cultural and Artistic Project Implementation in Serbia

An exceptional response—totaling 273 applications—reflects the critical position of the cultural sector in Serbia in the context of the current political and social climate. Based on the Commission’s evaluation, 22 projects have been selected for support, with a total budget of 21,500,000.00 RSD. Although this amount exceeds the originally planned budget for this call, we believe that, amid the ongoing crisis and with public calls for cultural funding either canceled or indefinitely postponed, such support is more necessary than ever.

Artistic Residency and Public Presentation of Gaelle Axelbrun’s Play Held as Part of the Playground Project

From June 22 to 28, 2025, an artistic residency of French playwright Gaelle Axelbrun took place at Heartefact House in Belgrade, as part of the European project Playground. During this intensive seven-day working period, Gaelle, together with director Tara Manić, translator Olja Petronić, and the acting ensemble—Nevena Kočović, Jana Bjelica, and Andrej Nježić—explored the dramaturgical and performative potential of her play Far from the Mud in Which We Sink into Sleep.

Residency of French Author Gaelle Axelbrun in Belgrade as Part of the Playground Project

From June 22 to 28, 2025, the Heartefact House in Belgrade will host a residency for French playwright Gaelle Axelbrun as part of the European project Playground. This intensive seven-day residency, organized by Heartefact, is part of an international collaboration focused on the development of contemporary dramatic texts by emerging European authors.

First Seminar for Youth from Serbia Held as Part of the Regional VIBE Program

From June 20 to 22, 2025, Heartefact organized a three-day seminar for young people from Serbia in Belgrade as part of the regional program VIBE – Connecting Young People. The program brings together youth from Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation and exchange. Designed as a space for learning, dialogue, and connection, it focuses on human rights, regional cooperation, the shared history of the region, and reflections on the future that young people wish to shape through activism and civic engagement.