Creative team

Vesna Popović

Special pedagogue and drama pedagogue, with a Master’s degree on the Applied theatre course on the University of Novi Sad, Academy of Arts. Experience in directing 11 original interactive applied theatre productions with different target groups, performing for non-traditional audiences (for experts in the field of social work, education, for students, for youth from vulnerable groups). Experience in the use of different Applied theatre production forms (Developmental theatre, Interactive theatre, Theatre in Education, Forum theatre, Shadow theatre, Puppet theatre, Street theatre). Experience in leading over 600 applied theatre workshops. Working for 8 years now as a social worker in the Department of Child Protection of the Belgrade Center for social welfare.

Sonja Mladenov Leštar

Graduated acting at the Academy of arts in Novi Sad in the class of Boro Drašković. Masters Degree in Applied theatre. Active acting experience, and 15 years of experience as an active drama pedagogue, working in the Association of the Deaf of Novi Sad, working with children and youth from marginalized groups as well as from the general public, and with different adult non-actor groups. Active in the projects of introducing process drama in schools in Serbia.

Iva Srnec Harmer

Youth worker and a theatre director, Master’s Degree in Theatre directing on the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, department of Theatre directing and radiophony, a member of Croatian Society of Dramatic Artistis. 12 years of experience as drama teacher, and youth worker, working on youth projects as a participant and also as youth trainer specialised in theatre-based training. Founder of Točka na i and Empiria teatar, director of 12 theatre productions. Experience in working with actors and different non-actor groups (elderly, different categories of children and youth, people with psychiatric difficulties, people with multiple sclerosis).

Paul Leonard Murray

B.A (Hons) University of Leeds (Dramaturgy, acting, community theatre) MA. University of Warwick UK (Education, Theatre, Culture. Supervisor Prof. Jonathan Neelands) PhD University of Winchester, UK (Applied Theatre, Theatre for Development; Supervisor Prof Tim Prentki) Graduated in 1989. Worked professionally since then as a theatre artist inspired by issues of social inclusion and the methods of what is now generally referred to as Applied Theatre. Worked as a director/artist within the prison, education, care, special education and mental health systems leading, facilitating and directing Applied theatre projects. Held a number of full-time and visiting professorships in Universities and Colleges in the UK and Serbia, including Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and the University of Arts in Belgrade. Published articles and chapters in leading Applied theatre journals and publications and run numerous training programmes for socially engaged arts professionals and students. In addition to his work as artist and academic he was a Director of the Scottish Government’s Artfull initiative which was set up to promote and fund research into the use of the arts in the promotion of good Mental Health. Worked as a trainer and lead trainer on a number of EU projects and other international collaborations. He is active as an expert in OSCE Roster base.