Born in Zrenjanin (Former Yugoslavia) and currently based in Brussels, Sanja Mitrovic is a theatre director, performer, writer and lecturer. She graduated in Japanese language and literature from the Belgrade University, and in Physical Theatre studies from the Amsterdam University of the Arts. In 2009 founded theatre company Stand Up Tall Productions.
Since 2000’s her work has gained international recognition for its exploration of theatre’s relation to the social, political and cultural realities of our times. Across various formats and contexts, Mitrovic has developed a practice marked by compassion, sharp analysis and an urgency to explore the influence of collective processes on private lives.
Recent productions include Danke Deutschland – Cam on nuoc Du from 2019 for the Schaubühne theatre in Berlin realised with actors from its ensemble and members of the Vietnamese and Laotian immigrant communities; My Revolution Is Better Than Yours from 2018 for the Centre Dramatique National Nanterre-Amandiers inspired by the protests of 1968; and Comrades, I Am Not Ashamed Of My Communist Past, an autobiographical duet with Vladimir Aleksic which premiered at the BITEF Theatre in Belgrade in 2016.
Mitrovic has been Artist-in-Residence at Centre Dramatique National d’Orléans, France (2017–19); Festival a/d Werf in Utrecht (2011–12); Het Veem Theater in Amsterdam (2008–11), and Theater Gasthuis, also in Amsterdam (2006–08). Her works have been commissioned, co-produced and presented at international festivals and venues, including Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Wiener Festwochen and Tanzquartier (Vienna), BITEF Festival (Belgrade), Theater Spektakel (Zürich), SPRING Performing Arts Festival (Utrecht), European Capital of Culture (Guimarães, Portugal), Festival Reims Scenes d’Europe and La Comédie de Reims (Reims), and Teatro Nacional São João (Porto).
In 2010 Mitrovic was awarded the BNG Nieuwe Theatermakers Prijs by Theatre Instituut Nederland for Will You Ever Be Happy Again?, which premiered in 2008 at the BITEF Festival in Belgrade, toured internationally and was nominated for Prix D’Jardin Europe, also in 2010.
She is currently conducting a doctoral research at the Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema and Sound in Brussels, where she teaches drama and documentary theatre.