PRESS RELEASE

Qendra Multimedia & Gerçek Tyiatrosu

CONCERNING THE DIPLOMATIC NOTE OF THE EMBASSY OF TURKIYE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA REGARDING OUR PERFORMANCE ‘SIX AGAINST TURKEY’

We are surprised to learn of the official diplomatic note issued by the Embassy of Turkiye in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in response to the upcoming performance of our production Six Against Turkey at the National Theatre of Sarajevo on April 14.

However, this reaction indeed only adds further relevance and resonance to our performance, giving it life beyond the stage. It confirms that we have touched a vital political and social nerve.

If once theatre was said to imitate reality, today we live in a time where reality increasingly imitates theatre. The mindset of control and censorship, imposed under the guise of diplomacy, is entirely unacceptable.

Qendra Multimedia is recognized for its politically engaged theatre, and artistic freedom on stage is at the heart of its artistic practice.

We must also underline that similar pressure—albeit more discreet—has been applied by the Turkish Embassy in Kosovo. However, in Prishtina, the central authorities stood firm. The Ministry of Culture even publicly voiced its support for the production and its team. Unfortunately, the Municipality of Prizren has twice obstructed the staging of the performance.

Six Against Turkey is a political parable. While it speaks to the relationship between Turkey and Kosovo, it also reflects broader patterns of resurgent authoritarianism—patterns we increasingly witness around the world, from the United States to Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and beyond.

Qendra Multimedia & Gerçek Tyiatrosu