Actor Andrè Lötter says audiences can expect an emotional and thought-provoking journey when the award-winning production, Sarajevo, returns to Theatre on the Square in Sandton from August 5 to 22.
Lötter joins the acclaimed cast as Aleksander, a Bosnian Serb, whose life is turned upside down. “He is just an ordinary young man, enjoying life with two close friends that he has known since they were children. They have grown up together and share a very strong bond.”

As conflict erupts around them, Aleksander is forced to confront impossible choices, while trying to protect the woman he loves. “You see him slowly transform because of everything happening around him. His biggest goal is to get the love of his life out of Sarajevo. The sacrifices he makes along the way become the heart of his journey.”

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Lötter said he immediately connected with the script after receiving it from playwright and lead actress Aimèe Mica Komorowsky, with whom he had previously worked. “The first time I read it, I knew I had to be part of it. Although it is set during the Bosnian War, it could be any country, any conflict, and any period in history. It is about the destruction of humanity and the innocent people who are caught up in wars they never chose.”

Preparing for the emotionally demanding role required extensive research into the Bosnian War, including documentaries and historical accounts. “The biggest challenge was understanding the psychological and emotional transformation of the character. We spent a lot of time discussing where those changes happen and researching what people experienced during the conflict. The script gives you the journey, but you have to fully commit to it.”

One of the moments that resonated most with Lötter explores how conflict is portrayed. “There is a scene where Aleksander speaks about how the media often focuses on one side of a conflict. That really stayed with me because war brings devastation to everyone involved. Usually, it is ordinary people who suffer the consequences.”

He added that scenes depicting the violence women experience during conflict were also deeply moving. “They make you ask yourself what you would do if you witnessed something like that. Would you stand by, or would you act? Those are difficult but necessary questions.”

The production returns after winning four Naledi Theatre Awards, including Best Production of a Play, and Lötter describes joining the cast as both exciting and humbling. “I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such talented people. There is always pressure when you join an award-winning production, but I see it as an opportunity to contribute my own interpretation, while honouring the story.”

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Opening during women’s month, Sarajevo also encourages audiences to reflect on gender-based violence and the experiences of women during times of conflict. “Gender-based violence remains a reality, and I hope this play starts conversations. Theatre cannot solve these problems on its own, but it can encourage people to think differently and inspire action.

“I hope ordinary people leave thinking about what they can do, but I also hope people in positions of authority come to watch it because they have the power to make meaningful change.”

While Sarajevo is rooted in a specific chapter of history, Lötter believes its message is timeless. “At its heart, this is a story about humanity, love, loss, and hope. Those are experiences that connect all of us, no matter where we come from.”

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