Budva Theatre City – A Summer of Theatre, Music and Culture

Given that Montenegro has a rich and diverse cultural heritage which includes both Italian and Greek Influences it’s no surprise that one of the longest standing festivals throughout the summer months just happens to be based on Theatre and Music.

Starting in early July and ending in late August the Budva Theatre City plays host to around 600 performers in Theatre, Music, Literary and Art programmes with the theme for 2023 set as ‘Strength, Courage and Stupidity’.

Since being founded in 1987, the festival aims to re-build the Mediterranean spirit of the town changing the many streets and piazzas into mini theatres, usually involving locals, visitors and passers-by in the scene of the play or performance. Now, an integral part of modern day Budva, the festival is usually attended by around 15,000 people each year.

It’s not just a local event either with a mix of both International and Montenegrin content. Adaptions of Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Aladdin, Zorba The Greek and The Divine Comedy have all been performed here, along with renowned performances fr om Montenegro and the local area including Kanjis Macedonović and Banović Strahinja.

The Summer Stage is usually housed within the Citadel Complex, which provides the perfect setting in which to enjoy the performances. Built in the 15th century it includes the St Mary’s Church, terraced gates, several squares, and the Barracks Building + offers a beautiful view across the Bay. Primarily built for defensive purposes, it exudes a museum-like ambience, and wh ere once you’d take a bow in-front of a Lord or King, it’s now performers and musicians who take a bow in front of you.

In addition to the plays, there’s also a full music programme with a diverse range of international talent which includes musicians, orchestras and choirs. Previous big names included the likes of: Stjepko Gut Quartet, Choir Collegium Musicum, Stefan Milenković, and Ensemble Theodora Baka.
Last but not least, there’s also Poet’s Square which is a little more relaxing and offers a unique place in which literary creators and the audience can interact, whilst presenting new structures, poetic, methods, works of literature and dialogue.

If you want to know more about the festival, you can have a chat with the team at CMM Montenegro or you can visit the dedicated website for the even here: https://gradteatar.me/?lang=en

03.08.2023