This is the first original musical entirely produced as a local music-stage product, primarily aimed at young people but also for everyone else. The musical "Things Will Get Better If We (Don’t) React" tells the story of four young individuals who, in their everyday conversations, reflect on human rights issues affecting youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stemming from their personal traumas, histories, challenges, and desires.

A youthful take on everyday questions prompts us to think about young people and the rights being violated in BiH. This is why the musical is meant for everyone—young people and decision-makers who influence youth rights.

The musical is virtual because it is entirely produced and directed for the online or virtual world, of which we are increasingly becoming participants. It is interactive because, during the stream, viewers participate by answering a survey question. Aware of how the internet today is overwhelmed with various content and how we have less and less time and focus for consuming it, the musical is condensed into three short scenes, with a total runtime of just 20 minutes.

"It is very challenging to address young people. Although we are aware of what captures their attention today and how to almost fully engage them, we decided to retain a more classical musical format with music, script, and scene structure. The mission of the BASICSchool is to educate children and young people, so we use this music-stage performance as an opportunity to teach them about art and theater. I hope we managed to strike a balance between what attracts young people and where their focus should be directed," said Đorđe Jovančić, the author of the musical.

The roles are played by Tea Sejmenović, Issa Osmić, Ema Durić, and Zara Rašidagić, BASICSchool students who have had notable roles in the school’s previous musicals. The directors are Staša Dukić (London, UK) and Đorđe Jovančić (East Sarajevo, BiH).

The premiere performance of the musical took place on September 15, 2021, at 6 PM. It was live-streamed from the Sarajevo Youth Theatre and broadcast on the BASICSchool YouTube channel.

Production Team:

• Casting: Staša Dukić and Đorđe Jovančić

• Script: Đorđe Jovančić

• Music: Đorđe Jovančić

• Choreography: Ivana Hadžihasanović

• Costumes: Armin Ćosić

• Makeup Artist: Vesna Husić

• Vocal Supervisor: Adelisa Saračević

• Acting Supervisor: Nadine Mičić

• Producer: Ana Gluhović

• Music Producer: Đorđe Jovančić

• Executive Producer: Đorđe Jovančić

• Lighting: Dino Memić and Adis Mirojević

• Video Mapping: Slađan Vujić

• Set Designer: Haris Landžo

• Driver: Dragan Jovančić

• Sound: Vanja Kurtović

• Cinematography: Marko Jovančić, Ivan Trnčić, and Vanja Košutić

• Drone Operator: Ivan Trnčić

• Graphic Design: Peđa Kazazović

• Photography: Marko Jovančić

• Video Animation: Marko Jovančić

• Editing: Marko Jovančić

• Live Stream: MAUBIH Production

• Production: BASICSchool

• Co-Production: Sarajevo Youth Theatre

• Executive Production: MAUBIH Production