The show will now take the stage at the Pitika Ntuli Studio – a pop-up studio based in Wynberg – in association with esteemed author, Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob.
Bezrob is the perfect person to join the cast in the promotion of this production as she has penned her first-hand accounts of the Bosnian war as a United Nations political and information officer in a book called Sarajevo Roses. Her experience in Bosnia has been an invaluable addition to the authenticity and endorsement of Cheers to Sarajevo.
This is a moving script about the Yugoslavian war that took place and how it ravaged and destroyed not only cities but relationships as well.
The story follows a man from South Africa who arrives in Sarajevo hoping to take a dramatic picture of what was happening in the war and gain critical acclaim for it. What he finds is a forbidden love affair that takes place between a Bosnian woman and a Serbian soldier.
Using this knowledge as leverage to blackmail the woman, he embarks on a journey around Sarajevo with her as his guide. It is an emotional and moving story of friendship, love, loyalty and patriotism – something not to be missed.
The cast and producers now need support from the public to raise funds in order to take the production straight to the heart of the story – Sarajevo and its surrounds.
With a number of the cast members and producers having Bosnian heritage, it is important for them to spread this story that aims to find the connection between the way South Africans were experiencing their newfound freedom and transitioning from a state that was hateful, in the same way as the war in Sarajevo, but to a lesser extent.
Bezrob has generously offered to include her collection of original war memorabilia to the new Memorial exhibition, which opened to audiences for the first time in November.
The stage show will open on 11 November and will run until 14 November.
Details: www.thundafund.com/cheerstosarajevo; bookings@revelproductions.co.za
