Milatovic-Ovadia, Maja (2025) Devised comedy as theatre-making methodology for post-war reconciliation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Doctoral thesis, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Abstract

This thesis argues that devised comedy is a transformative methodology for engaging divided communities in complex discussions about identity, trauma, and post-war reconciliation. Situated at the intersection of peacebuilding, theatre and comedy studies, this practice research demonstrates that devised comedy is an effective practice with significant potential to reconfigure the workings of authority, reconstruct collective memory, and foster a hopeful future.

The research developed through theatre-making with young people in Northern Bosnia, a context marked by trans-generational war trauma, entrenched ethnic divisions, and institutionalised memory politics that reinforce conflict rather than foster reconciliation. This ongoing antagonism among competing narratives of a traumatic past and the absence of dialogue was addressed through devised comedy focused on challenging social and ethnic divisions. The directorial methodology created for this work is grounded in three essential components: (1) comedy being specified as the intended genre, (2) employing devising as a collaborative theatre-making strategy, (3) replacing predetermined narratives with single-word stimuli for creative deliberation.

Through examining the co-creation of three devised performances, the research reveals how devised comedy not only provides a convening space for both participants and audiences, but is also a genre that critically addresses ethnic division by enacting the reconciliation aims of restoring capacity for trust and creating a discursive space that recognises the presence of multiple narratives. Building upon existing studies of theatre in post-war contexts, rooted in participatory practices and collective authorship (Dolečki et al., 2018; Thompson, 2002, 2008, 2013; Cohen et al. 2011; Zelizer, 2010; Kuftinec, 2009), this study makes a contribution to the literature on participatory practices in post-conflict situations by investigating comedy as a genre that has often been overlooked, with the aim of broadening theatre practices and methodologies related to reconciliation processes.