No Apologies! Balkan Tour: What if Kurt Cobain had been a trans woman?

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During the first days in June, Heartefact brought the internationally acclaimed performance No Apologies! to audiences in Prishtina, Skopje and Belgrade, creating new spaces for visibility and artistic dialogue around queer and trans experiences across the Western Balkans.

Created and performed by Emma Frankland, No Apologies! begins with a provocative question: What if Kurt Cobain had been a trans woman? Inspired by Nirvana’s iconic 1993 MTV Unplugged concert, the performance uses this imagined alternative history to challenge dominant narratives and rethink who is remembered, represented and celebrated. Blending theatre, live music and autobiographical storytelling, it transforms a familiar cultural landmark into an intimate exploration of identity, memory and belonging.

Bringing the performance to the Western Balkans carried particular significance. In a region where queer and trans communities continue to face exclusion and limited visibility, No Apologies! offered a space where these experiences were not explained or defended but lived and shared. Each performance became a unique encounter between artist and audience, opening conversations that extended beyond the stage.

The tour was accompanied by a community program developed with local LGBTQI+ organizations, including a workshop led by Emma Frankland on collective memory and queer archives. Bringing together artists, activists and community members, the program created opportunities to reflect on how personal stories become part of shared histories, while strengthening connections across the region.

No Apologies! is commissioned by Marlborough Productions. Supported by Attenborough Center for the Creative Arts, The Old Electric, Northumbria University, and Arts Council England. No Apologies! – The Balkans is supported by the Art in Action program of the British Council, which aims to build connections between the Western Balkans and the UK through creative and cultural cooperation.

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No Apologies! Balkan Tour: What if Kurt Cobain had been a trans woman?

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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.