Opera Lab and Malo pozorište “Duško Radović” proudly announce the premiere of the contemporary monodrama Crocodile, directed by Ana Grigorović, which will take place on 12 February 2026 at the Evening Stage of Malo pozorište “Duško Radović” in Belgrade.

The performance is based on the award-winning play by Elize Vilk, who received the National Award for Monodrama in 2017 for this work. The play will be presented for the first time in Serbian, bringing an important contemporary story to local audiences.

Crocodile is a powerful monodrama that follows David, an eleven-year-old boy struggling to survive in a world where there seems to be no place for his difference. The story explores his inner world as he faces the loss of his father, neglect within the family, and violence at school while trying to understand his own identity and sense of belonging.

In societies shaped by rigid and binary perceptions of gender and sexuality, children and young people who do not fit into expected norms are often left without a voice, protection, or space to grow. Crocodile gives voice to that silence, addressing themes of bullying, loneliness, identity, and the responsibility of the community toward young people who feel different or excluded.

The performance is conceived as an intimate theatrical experience that follows David during a crucial period of early adolescence. What he cannot say or express openly returns as pain — symbolized by the crocodile that “bites from within.” When pain remains unnamed, it grows stronger.

The creative team behind the production includes actor Đorđe Živadinović Grgur, who performs the role of David, scenographer Dunja Kostić, composer Matija Anđelković, sound designer Dragan Stevanović Bagzi, and choreography and stage movement by Đorđe Živadinović Grgur.

The project was developed with the professional support of andragogue Maja Maksimović and psychologist Mirjana Marković, alongside collaborators involved in the creative process.

Crocodile is recommended for audiences aged 12+ and adults. The artistic process began with a creative workshop for young people aged 18–25, inspired by the themes of the monodrama and organized in partnership with Atrium (Skopje, North Macedonia).

The production is a co-production between Opera Lab and Malo pozorište “Duško Radović” and is supported by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) – WB Youth Cultural Fund, promoting regional collaboration and dialogue through contemporary performing arts.

Through this production, the creators invite audiences to listen more carefully, to look toward experiences often ignored, and to reflect on how society can become a stronger ally to young people who grow up feeling different.