Mostar Youth Theatre

The symbol of Mostar Youth Theatre in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mostar Youth Theatre (locally known as Mostarski Teatar Mladih or MTM) is a city-sponsored community theatre located in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded on February 24, 1974.^{[citation needed]} The work of MTM includes a practical drama education for children and young people as well production of shows.^[1]

MTM offers free training in improvisation, acting games, physical theatre, movement, voice, pantomime, dance, masks, and various styles of acting. Theatre is divided into following subdivisions: a children's drama group; a youth drama group; the senior MTM group; a music group; a dance group; a video – art group; and the MTM club – gallery.

The Mostar Youth Theatre also organizes the “Days of Youth Theatre” IFAP (International Festival of Authorial Poetics), which also includes the educational part called Alternative Academy. The duration of the Alternative Academy activities is parallel to the duration IFAP (which since 2000 has established a full three-week duration) and its core activities include theater workshops and acting courses. The Festival is held annually around the last weekend of August and the four best original new pieces are awarded a prize called the “Mravac” award.^[2]

In addition, the Mostar Youth Theatre has founded an International award called the “Grozdanin Kikot” award.^{[citation needed]} It is usually awarded to the five individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to the development of drama education. The award organization was later taken over by the Centre for Drama Education (CDO) which was also initiated by the MTM.^[3]

The Mostar Youth Theatre, through the CDO is a member of the International Drama and Theatre Education Association (IDEA).

Mostar Youth Theatre is one of the theaters with the most frequent program in Mostar and their headquarters are located in the City Bath building at the Musala Square.^[4]

In March 2011, Izida Sakić was named a director of the MTM while the former director and co-founder Sead Dulić is undergoing a investigation concerning financial mismanagement of the institution.^[5]

References

1. ^ Bosch Stifung: The Mostar Youth Theatre (Mostarski Teatar Mladih – MTM), Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. ^ Christina Mouratidou, International Festival of Authorial Poetics 1 (IFAP) “Days of Youth Theatre”, August 2003.^[where?] Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina): persistence for culture in a culturally hostile age.
3. ^ Bosch Stifung: The Mostar Youth Theatre (Mostarski Teatar Mladih – MTM), Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. ^ : Mostar info
5. ^ Article: Nemile scene pokvarile dan teatra.