Award-winning playwright and actress Aimèe Mica Komorowsky hopes audiences leave Sarajevo emotionally moved, and inspired to reflect on the stories that shaped humanity, when the acclaimed production returns to Theatre on the Square from August 5 to 22.

The play, which earned four Naledi Theatre Awards, is set during the Bosnian War of the 1990s. While the conflict provides the backdrop, Komorowsky says the production is ultimately about friendship, love, identity, and the resilience of the human spirit.

The inspiration for Sarajevo came from a trip she made to the former Yugoslavia in 2002. “I was about 14 years old when I visited. It was the last year it was Yugoslavia. Seeing the aftermath of the war and listening to people’s stories changed me. When I came back, I realised how powerful theatre could be in telling deeply personal stories that people remember and connect with.

Read more: Sasa Yende captivates audience with heartfelt Arias of the Heart performance

“It became a way to express generational trauma and tell stories that matter, stories that people engage with and carry with them.”

Komorowsky not only wrote the play; she also stars as Mirela, a woman whose love for her homeland remains unshaken despite the devastation around her. “Every cast has shaped Mirela differently because each actor brings something unique. At her core, she is a woman who loves her home, no matter how destroyed it becomes. Her heart remains with her country and with the love of her life, despite everything that happens.”

Although the production is rooted in a historical conflict, Komorowsky believes its themes speak directly to modern audiences. “If you changed the title from Sarajevo to somewhere else, it would still be a story about humanity. It’s set during a war, but it’s not really a war story. It’s about experiences everyone can relate to.

“It is very filmic and fast-paced. You don’t have to love theatre to enjoy it. Even people who say they don’t enjoy theatre have connected with this production because it speaks to today’s generation.”

With an additional women’s month performance on August 9, followed by a panel discussion, Komorowsky believes the play’s exploration of violence against women is particularly relevant in South Africa. “Women’s bodies have always become battlefields during war. The Bosnian conflict was one of the first times wartime sexual violence was recognised and prosecuted internationally.”

Also read: The story behind the artists of the Rooted in Connection art exhibit

She said the production also encourages audiences to reflect on gender-based violence closer to home. “South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence. The play holds up a mirror to society.

The people who commit these crimes are not monsters from another world. They are fathers, brothers, neighbours, and friends. We need to be willing to look honestly at ourselves and our communities.”

As audiences leave the theatre, Komorowsky hopes they take more than memories of a performance with them. “I hope they leave emotionally overwhelmed in the best possible way. I want them to feel something, to want to tell these stories to others, and to understand the importance of memory, truth, and continuing to share stories that matter.”

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!