The play “In the Name of the Father”, written and directed by Darrel Toulon, has undergone a reconstruction and was performed throughout April with a new generation of young performers, once again bringing to the stage one of the region’s most significant artistic narratives about children born as a consequence of wartime rape in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The first version of the play premiered more than seven years ago, and since then, “In the Name of the Father” has remained one of the most important artistic works addressing the experiences and identities of children born of war through a dance-documentary format. The reconstructed version premiered on April 24, 2026, while its first reprise performance was held on April 28 at the National Theatre Tuzla.
The play was produced in co-production by the Association Forgotten Children of War, The Alpha Group from Austria, and the National Theatre Tuzla.
The new cast includes young students from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Tuzla, alongside professional actors from Sarajevo: Enes Kozličić, Alen Konjicija, Jana Miletić, Ema Kadirić, Ema Bratić, Emina Husarić, Amar Galešić, and Emin Šahdan. Through movement, documentary material, and stage interpretation, this new generation of performers takes on the responsibility of addressing a topic that has remained marginalized and insufficiently visible in public discourse for decades.
Based on real testimonies, life stories, and the internal struggles of children born as a consequence of conflict-related sexual violence, the play creates space for dialogue on identity, belonging, stigma, and the right to truth. At the same time, it addresses issues that go beyond individual experiences, reaching deeply into collective memory, social responsibility, and processes of dealing with the past.
At a time when historical facts are often relativized or forgotten, “In the Name of the Father” reminds us of the importance of confronting the past – not as an act of accusation, but as a necessary step toward understanding, recognition, and long-term societal healing. The engagement of a new generation of performers further confirms that the need for these stories has not ended, and that they still require space, voice, and an audience.
“In the Name of the Father” remains a space for testimony, empathy, and dialogue, while also serving as a powerful reminder that some topics must not remain outside the public sphere and collective memory.
This production was implemented as part of the project “Building Long-Term Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Investing in the Future”, implemented by BIRN BiH, the Srebrenica Memorial Center, and the Association Forgotten Children of War, with the support of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF). The play was co-financed by the Austrian Cultural Forum.
