Summary (in English)

The Correspondence Theatre (Serbian: Дописно позориште / Dopisno pozorište) is a specific type of theatrical organization and play, established in Novi Sad (Serbia, then former Yugoslavia) in 1974. This idea was theoretically and practically implemented by Mladen Dražetin from Novi Sad. It was the original model for the spread of theatrical culture among the broad masses.

Theatrical performances were prepared in the cities and small places all over the former Yugoslavia, in accordance with the instructions that, through the Correspondence Theatre, were given to the organizers and protagonists via letters, telephone calls and faxes, sent from Novi Sad. Members of the Correspondence Theatre from Novi Sad, fully free of charge, gave advices and offered any other assistance to the new participants of theatrical life and newly established branches of the Correspondence Theatre, regardless of where were those who needed such assistance. The originality of the model of the Correspondence Theatre brought the attention of many theorists and organizers of theatrical life.

Establishment - The theater was established in 1973, but the authorities of the former Yugoslav state did not permitted its registration under the name "Correspondence Theatre". Thus, the theater worked unregistered for over a year. On March 3, 1974, the license was obtained and the society entered into the register under the name "KUD Drama Art Scene" ("КУД Позорница драмске уметности" / "KUD Pozornica dramske umetnosti"). The seat of the society was in Novi Sad. The Correspondence Theatre itself was a universal animation system that operated within the Drama Art Scene society.

Objectives - The main goal was to collect the image of the world through the democratic indications, based on individual interpretations, to enrich the performances with the variety of experiences, and to encourage the actors and active viewers to abandon the obstacles that bear loneliness and uncommunicativity in the world of conventions and urban impersonality. Theatre was also a system for combating against bureaucracy in culture.

Work in the World - Through its work, the Correspondence Theatre or the "correspondent system" established itself on the planetary level, via the Planetary School of Peace, the Humanitarian Planetary School and the Christian Planetary School. The Planetary School of Peace, within the Correspondence Theatre, developed its activity in the period from 1974 to 2005. These "planetary schools" for education and animation of citizens were forerunners of Internet in various countries.

The Correspondence Theatre has established information centers in Novi Sad and Zagreb, through which the animation and education of the masses were performed. Member of the Correspondence Theatre Josip Dobrik from Gložan constructed a two amateur radio stations through which the communication was performed with radio amateurs in the world.

For 30 years of work of the Correspondence Theatre, the Information Center of this theatre in Novi Sad processed over 100,000 letters of interested collaborators of the Correspondence Theatre.