UMRO SAŠO MILENKOVSKI

The death of Sašo Milenkovski has sent shockwaves through the Macedonian and broader Balkan theater community. According to family sources confirmed to the portal "Sloboden pečat," the renowned stage director passed away after a long illness. His passing marks a significant loss for the Macedonian and regional theatrical landscape, where he left an indelible mark over nearly four decades of work.

Born in 1963 in Bitola, Milenkovski was regarded as one of the most important Macedonian stage directors of his generation. He began his professional career even before completing his studies at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Skopje, joining a multinational project called KPGT in Subotica, where he worked from 1988 to 1991. During the 1990s, he played a pivotal role in bringing new aesthetics and fresh expressions to the Macedonian stage, contributing significantly to the evolution of Macedonian dramaturgy.

Milenkovski directed more than 50 plays, including works by William Shakespeare, Molière, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Samuel Beckett, as well as numerous contemporary authors. One of his most notable achievements was directing the play "Balkan nije mrtav" by Dejan Dukovski, which premiered in 1992 at the National Theatre in Bitola. The play won four awards at the "Vojdan Černodrinski" Festival in Prilep and was performed at festivals such as "Ohridsko leto" and "Mladi otvoreni teatar."

Another major success came with the production of "Kure Barut" in 1994 at the Macedonian National Theatre, further solidifying Dukovski's dramatic legacy. His extensive repertoire also includes plays such as "Tetovirane duše," "Crna rupa," "Bahanalije," "Lični oglasi," "Kandid u zemlji čuda," "Sinegonda u Karlalandu," and "Job." In addition to directing, he authored several dramatic texts, including "Božić," "Igra je gotova," "Deus Ex Machina," and "Ovo nije američki film," all of which were successfully staged on the theater scene.

In 1999, Milenkovski founded the independent theater "Vavilon," making a substantial contribution to the development of independent theater in North Macedonia. From 2006 to 2010, he served as the director of the Macedonian National Theatre, and since 2010, he worked as a dramaturg at the Drama Theatre in Skopje, participating in the creation of a modern repertoire.

His work earned him numerous accolades, including two awards for best direction at the "Vojdan Černodrinski" Festival for the plays "Igra je gotova" and "Makedonski rulet." His dramas "Zločin i kazna" and "Niš ekspres" have also been recognized with awards. Milenkovski leaves behind a rich artistic legacy, many award-winning plays, and a strong influence on the development of Macedonian theater.

He was married to actress Biljana Beličanec, who passed away in 2019, and was the father of director Hanja Milenkovska. His contributions to the arts will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of theater professionals in the region.