The 63^rd International Theatre Festival MESS opened this evening with Albert Camus’ Caligula, performed by the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre from Kyiv, Ukraine. The highly symbolic decision taken by the MESS Festival’s organisers to connect two capital cities tragically marked by war was supported by the European Union, which financed the costs for the 17 members of the Ukrainian company, as well as their theatre set, to travel to Sarajevo. Due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the group from the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre were obliged to make a two-day journey to Sarajevo overland.

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adebayo Babajide, who attended the opening, said, “Art and artists have always played an important role in times of war. By creating art and cultural resistance, they encourage people and share valuable moments with their audiences. The organisers of MESS decided to open the Festival with a demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine by inviting a Ukrainian theatre company to perform ‘Caligula’, and I'm glad that the EU was able to support."

The chargé d'affaires at the Ukrainian Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina Serhii Miniailo said,”We highly appreciate the initiative of MESS’ organizers to invite a Ukrainian theatre company to open the Festival this year. We see it as another act of solidarity with Ukraine by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Financial support for this idea provided by the EU demonstrates that the European institutions assist promotion of the cultural diversity and values not only within the EU itself but also in the candidate counties. I am sure that the performance by the highly acclaimed Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre left Sarajevo’s public with the most positive impressions and experiences”.

Director of the MESS Festival Nihad Kreševljaković said, “"For decades now, the MESS Festival has been closely cooperating with international institutions that, with their selfless support, enabled top theater productions to be hosted at our festival and contributed to its international character. The support of the EU for the organisation of this year's MESS is particularly important to us because we have the opportunity to send a message of solidarity not only to Ukrainian artists but also to all the artists of the world and let them know that the MESS Festival is with them and that we share universal human values."

The European Union is the largest provider of support for culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an expression of the EU’s motto ‘United in Diversity’ and the belief that culture is a universal value that asks important questions, stimulates reflection, bridges differences and encourages respect for diversity.