The third international theatre festival within the European project Age Against the Machine was held from June 9 to 14, 2025, in the city of Évora, Portugal. The project is led by the “Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture” Foundation and implemented with the active participation of the Red Cross of Serbia, 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.

The festival, hosted by the University of Évora, brought together socially engaged theatres from Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Poland, and Serbia. Through performances, the troupes addressed the issue of ageism—one of the most widespread yet often overlooked forms of discrimination.

Ageism—prejudice and stereotyping based on age—is not only a risk factor for violence against older people, but also a serious obstacle to the development of cohesive societies where all generations can participate equally and live with dignity. Through artistic expression and open dialogue, the festival aimed to promote intergenerational solidarity and awareness.

Serbia was represented by the interactive performance Waiting for the Rain, produced by the theatre group Drž’ ne daj. The play, developed through collaboration between young and older participants, comprises six powerful stories that reflect the everyday realities of ageism. Following the performance, an open discussion was held with the audience, focusing on shared challenges of ageing and the importance of mutual understanding across generations.

The Serbian expert team included Nataša Todorović and Dr. Milutin Vračević from the Red Cross of Serbia, whose longstanding work in ageing and human rights significantly contributed to the thematic framework of the performance. Artistic direction and coordination were led by Lazar Jovanov, Branka Bajić—authors and coordinators of the project—whose creative leadership was essential to the success of the performance and the international collaboration.

This edition of the festival stands as a strong reminder of the role of culture and art in amplifying the voices of older persons and in promoting a society where ageing is celebrated, not marginalized.