y separately published work icon Miss Bosnia single work   drama  
Issue Details: First known date: 1995... 1995 Miss Bosnia
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A black comedy about a beauty pageant held during in the siege of Sarajevo in 1993 when snipers, bombs and bullets tore apart the once beautiful city.

'Mira is a big-haired super-bitch, a former Miss Yugoslavia. She's running the first Miss Bosnia pageant as a morale-booster for the shattered city. Self elected organiser of this inaugural beauty contest, Mira has her own reasons for wanting it to succeed. The six contestants are a motley bunch. This is more than an chance to represent Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Miss World pageant. First prize is a coveted seat on the last UN convoy out of Sarajevo. Who wouldn't put brains and bodies on the line? Longing, love and lust mingle with the smell of fear and war and power is the ultimate ruler . . . but who has the power? Shy yet alluring Lidija, an elegant Goddess - draws you in with her mystic appeal. Who is she. . . what is her story? Why does the very presence of General Jez fill her with dread and terror? Boris is a young disillusioned soldier desperate to escape the war. Could the pageant be his ticket out? And could his connection with General Jez secure his escape? Bitchery is rife, adrenalin is the drug of choice, the comedy is bayonet sharp and the talent quest is raucously hilarious. In a world made sick by war, laughter is still the best, perhaps the only medicine. Based on a bizarre but true story, this bitterly funny play is a witty look at the politics of swimsuit parades, and a sombre condemnation of the horror of war.'

Production Details

  • 1995: La Boite Theatre, Brisbane; 19 July - 26 August

    • Director Sue Rider; Producer la Boite Theatre La Boite Theatre in association with Teatar Di Migma; Set/Costume Design Christopher Smith; Lighting Design David Whitworth; Sound Design Briaan Edmond.
    • Cast: Lorrain Dalu, Anna Druga, Heidi Dugan, Russell Dykstra, Jenny Hall, Rosie Lalevich, Nicholas Papademetriou, Deborah Robertson, Christina Totos.

    Miss Bosnia has been produced in Australia on a number of occasions since 1995. Among these [roductions are:

    1996: Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth (Black Swan Theatre Company; 15 February - 10 March)

    1996: Fairfax Studio, Melbourne (Melbourne Theatre Company; 26 April - 1 June)

    1996: Canberra Theatre (Canberra Theatre Trust/Melbourne Theatre Company; 26-29 June)

    1996: Geelong Performing Arts Centre (Melbourne Theatre Company; 5-6 July)

    1996: Gold Coast Arts Centre, Surfers Paradise (Melbourne Theatre Company; 10-3 July)

    2005: Brisbane Arts Theatre (Brisbane Arts Theatre; ca. 10 February - 5 March)

    2013: Woodbin Theatre, Geelong (Geelong Repertory Theatre Company; 5-20 April - Thursdays to Sundays)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • s.l.,: s.n. , 1995 .
      Extent: 99 leavesp.
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • At head of title page: January 1995.
      • Typescript.

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: H2269A
    • s.l.,: s.n. , 1995 .
      Extent: 108 Leavesp.
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • At head of title page: 17 May 1995 draft.
      • Typescript.

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: H2269

Works about this Work

'Miss Bosnia' 1996 single work criticism
— Appears in: Rebel Worker , June 1996;

A call for the immediate closure of the 1996 Melbourne Theatre Company production of Miss Bosnia 'on the grounds that it vilifies men and women loyal to the multiethnic Democratic State of Bosnia-Herzegovina... and in turn; 1) propogates fascist sentiment, and 2) encourages Australians to deny any responsibility for the recent and current suffering of the people there, blaming the victims instead.' The writer then outlines at length the issues that he or she finds with the play based on knowledge of the history of former Yugoslavia and the events that form the basis of Nowra's play.

[Review of Miss Bosnia] Dina Ross , 1996 single work review
— Appears in: Herald Sun , 3 May 1996;

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama

Review of the 1996 Melbourne Theatre Company production (Fairfax Theatre, Melbourne; 26 April - 1 June).

[Review of Miss Bosnia] Mick Paskos , 1996 single work review
— Appears in: News Chronicle Community , 5 March 1996;

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama

Review of the 1996 Black Swan Theatre Company production (Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth; 15 February - 10 March).

[Review of Miss Bosnia] Stewart Dawes , 1996 single work review
— Appears in: X-Press Magazine , 22 February 1996;

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama

Review of the 1996 Black Swan Theatre Company production (Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth; 15 February - 10 March).

[Review of Miss Bosnia] Chris Thomas , 1996 single work review
— Appears in: The Sunday Times [Perth] , 18 February 1996;

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama

Review of the 1996 Black Swan Theatre Company production (Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth; 15 February - 10 March).

Miss Bosnia Attests to the Ugly Face of History Veronica Kelly , 1995 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 27 July 1995; (p. 15)

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama
Miss Bosnia's Fun but Misses Mark Richard Waller , 1995 single work review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 24 July 1995; (p. 12)

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama
Proud Gesture Gone to Burlesque Waste Mark Naglazas , 1996 single work review
— Appears in: The West Australian , 19 February 1996; (p. 4)

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama
Contestable Humour Lets Down Bosnia Gareth Griffiths , 1996 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 20 February 1996; (p. 14)

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama
Controversial Miss Bosnia Divides the Audience at Perth Festival John Mangan , 1996 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 1 March 1996; (p. A17)

— Review of Miss Bosnia Louis Nowra , 1995 single work drama
Nowra's Bosnia Play to be Staged by Students Lisa Yallamas , 1994 single work biography
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 26 October 1994; (p. 27)
Balkanising the Boards Geoffrey Milne , 1995 single work criticism
— Appears in: Eureka Street , September vol. 5 no. 7 1995; (p. 45-46)
The Siege of Sarajevo on Stage Peter Robinson , 1996 single work column biography
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 15 June 1996; (p. C11)
Survival Instincts Put Bosnia on the Stage Mark Naglazas , 1995 single work criticism biography
— Appears in: The West Australian , 28 November 1995; (p. 4)
Search for Humanity in the Bosnian Tragedy Richard Waller , 1995 single work criticism biography
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 22 July 1995; (p. 20)
Last amended 22 Mar 2016 10:55:55
Settings:
  • c
    Bosnia & Herzegovina,
    c
    c
    Ex Yugoslavia,
    c
    Eastern Europe, Europe,
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