Terazije Theatre

Theatre on Terazije

Theatre on Terazije logo
Address	Terazije 29 Belgrade Serbia
Owner	City of Belgrade
Current use	Musical productions
Construction
Opened	1949
Rebuilt	2005
Architect	Georgije Samoylov
Website
http://www.pozoristeterazije.com/

Theatre on Terazije (Serbian: Позориште на Теразијама / Pozorište na Terazijama) is a Broadway-style theatre in the Terazije area of Belgrade, Serbia. It is the only theatre in Serbia which exclusively produces musicals and has produced the Serbian versions of Chicago, Kiss Me, Kate, and many more. Due to its reconstruction, which started in 2003 and ended in 2005, it is also one of the most up-to-date and technologically advanced theatres in Serbia.

The Theatre on Terazije was opened in 1949, with an actors' ensemble as well as ballet, choir and orchestral ensembles. The building of the Terazije theatre in the same named area in Belgrade’s city centre was created by Georgije Samoylov, a Russian immigrant who completed his studies at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Architecture.

In 1990 Serbia, then known as Yugoslavia became a world pariah due to the dictatorship of Slobodan Milošević. At the end of 1991-92 season, The theatre was closed in order to undergo long overdue reconstruction. The ensemble had temporarily relocated to the cultural institution "Vuk Karadžić", with expectations that they would return to the reconstructed building within two seasons. However, due to the ethnic conflicts in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s, the theatre lost most of its funding and produced small musicals in difficult conditions. In 2000, when a political change occurred in Serbia and it was once again accepted into world organisations, the project of reconstructing old, out of date theatres in Belgrade began. In 2003 it was the theatre on the Terazije that finally came under reconstruction.

On 28 September 2003 the reconstruction of the Terazije began. The theatre was in a very bad shape having its underneath levels flooded and its performance hall in a nearly derelict state. The company Partnet Engineering devised the new look which cost the city authorities nearly 740 million Serbian dinars. The reconstruction included investment into new technology and a performance hall which would be comparable to Broadway theatres. The new theatre was opened on the 6th of July, 2005 with a complete new look. The luxurious new theatre became extremely appealing to Belgraders. Finally the city had an all-exclusive musical theatre it lacked for 13 years.