As part of the European project Age Against the Machine, implemented by the Red Cross of Serbia and led by the "Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture" Foundation, the second international theatre festival was held from April 10 to 13, 2025. The festival took place in the Italian city of Cuneo, organized by the partner theatre Dispari Teatro.

The event also marked the ceremonial opening of a new cultural chapter for the former church Chiesa di Santa Chiara, which, after ceasing to serve religious purposes, was permanently given to Dispari Teatro and transformed into a modern performing arts venue.

The project was presented through an interactive, intergenerational performance titled “Waiting for Rain”, produced by the theatre troupe Drž’ ne daj. The play consists of six stories focused on the topic of ageism. Among the attendees was the Mayor of Cuneo, who expressed great appreciation for the artistic approach and the powerful social message conveyed through the performance.

Following the show, an open discussion with the audience addressed key issues related to the discrimination of older people—ageism—as well as the challenges older generations face in various social contexts. The expert segment of the event was led by Nataša Todorović and Dr.Milutin Vračević from the Red Cross of Serbia, who made a significant contribution to the thematic framework of the play through their longstanding work with the elderly.

Project coordinators and co-authors are Lazar Jovanov and Branka Bajić. In addition to the Serbian representatives, the festival also featured socially engaged theatre groups from Italy, Denmark, Portugal, and Poland.

The Age Against the Machine project is supported by the European Union through the CERV – Network of Towns programme, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, and the City of Novi Sad, with the aim of promoting intergenerational solidarity, combating ageism, and increasing the visibility of older people in the cultural and public life of the community.

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