ISTER Theatre, founded in Belgrade in 1996, emerged as one of the first independent, experimental theatre groups in post-Yugoslav Serbia, positioning itself outside institutional frameworks at a moment of deep political crisis and cultural isolation. With an approach rooted in physical theatre, visual dramaturgy, and collective authorship, the group explored themes of memory, trauma, identity, and the body under systems of power, often blurring the boundaries between performance, installation, and ritual. Their work not only contributed to the shaping of the local independent performing arts scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but also opened a space for new forms of collaboration, critical thinking, and international exchange at a time when such artistic networks were difficult to sustain.
