Bilo jednom na Brijunima

One of the region’s most acclaimed theatre hits, Once Upon a Time in Brioni, is inspired by a remarkable historical encounter between two iconic couples: Josip Broz Tito and Jovanka Broz, and two of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars of the time, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. They met on the Brioni Islands in the 1970s.

Only fragments of their time together have been preserved - brief reports from Yugoslav media, biographical accounts of the four historical figures, and short entries from Richard Burton’s diary. These scarce records served as the foundation and inspiration for a production that, from its very premiere, became a sell-out success, with tickets consistently in high demand and additional performances quickly added.

This story of one of the most intriguing encounters in the history of the former Yugoslavia is brought to life by an outstanding cast: Milan Marić, widely recognized for his portrayal of Toma Zdravković in Toma; acclaimed acting duo Tihana Lazović and Branislav Trifunović; and Sanja Marković, a rising talent known to regional audiences for her role as Gordana in Toma.

The meeting itself was prompted by the filming of The Battle of Sutjeska - a historically documented fact. Everything else is imagined. The play creatively expands on what might have unfolded, exploring the dynamics and relationships between four extraordinary individuals.

What roles do these figures play - not only in history, but in relation to one another? What does it mean to inhabit multiple roles at once? How many identities do we carry - personal, collective, and constructed?

Discover the answers on Wednesday, May 13, at Cankarjev dom.

The performance is in Serbian, with Slovenian subtitles.