In a moment of profound social awakening in Serbia, Kulturanova brought to life “There Are No Trains Today” (Danas nema vozova)—a powerful devised theatre performance born from the personal stories of young people directly engaged in the protests following the tragic collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy.
Directed by Uroš Isak Mladenović, the process provided a vital creative space for youth to confront collective fears, grief, and anger. Through movement, original music, and recorded voiceovers drawn from their own letters and memories, the performers built an intensely intimate and universal performance. Topics such as patriarchal upbringing, gender-based violence, and women’s labour rights were explored with raw honesty, including a deeply moving scene based on a participant’s letter to her rapist.
The performance resonated strongly in Novi Sad, moving audiences to tears and sparking thoughtful post-show dialogues. Its success lies in its authenticity and symbolic physicality, which—without relying on spoken text—communicate a shared experience of transience, resistance, and hope.
On tour in Vienna, the piece transformed into a travelling dialogue, carrying the voice of Novi Sad’s youth into new cultural contexts. Each performance was followed by heartfelt conversations, deepening the sense of shared humanity and underlining theatre’s role as a mirror to society and a catalyst for empathy across borders.
The devised performance “There Are No Trains Today” was presented five times between April 29th and June 22nd, 2025, in Novi Sad and on tour in Vienna, engaging a total live audience of 150 people.
