culture
February 23, 2026
Niš National Theatre Suddenly Canceled Sold-Out Performance 'Once Upon a Time in Brijuni': The Troupe of Kokan Mladenović
The National Theatre in Niš has canceled the play 'Once Upon a Time in Brijuni,' directed by Kokan Mladenović, and indications suggest that the city councilor for culture, Ivana Cvetković, influenced this decision, as stated by the play's team.

TL;DR
- The Niš National Theatre canceled the sold-out performance 'Once Upon a Time in Brijuni,' originally scheduled for February 20th.
- The play's team claims the cancellation is due to unprofessionalism by the theatre's management and hints at potential censorship influenced by City Councilor Ivana Cvetković.
- The team alleges that since nationwide protests began, their play has not been invited by any cultural institution in Serbia, which was previously common.
- The play 'Once Upon a Time in Brijuni' features Milan Mari ć, Branislav Trifunović, Tihana Lazović, and Sanja Marković and discusses a meeting between Josip Broz Tito, Jovanka Broz, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton.
- The theatre management is accused of abandoning communication with the play's team after promising a replacement date in March.
- The 'Once Upon a Time in Brijuni' performance was replaced on the schedule by 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses,' which has three showings this month.
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