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.'
1995: La Boite Theatre, Brisbane; 19 July - 26 August
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)
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 the 1996 Melbourne Theatre Company production (Fairfax Theatre, Melbourne; 26 April - 1 June).
Review of the 1996 Black Swan Theatre Company production (Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth; 15 February - 10 March).
Review of the 1996 Black Swan Theatre Company production (Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth; 15 February - 10 March).
Review of the 1996 Black Swan Theatre Company production (Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth; 15 February - 10 March).
