Photo of the play Žene (ne) idu u raj, taken at the Theatre in Banja Luka. Photo credit: Krasiva

„Men don’t like successful women. And I was a dragon of a woman,” declares one of the characters in Žene (ne) idu u raj (Women (Don’t) Go to Heaven).

Blending cabaret and musical theatre, the production follows Dušica, Lila, Buba and Sofija, four very different women who find themselves in hell for their sins. Bound by a mysterious coral necklace, they reveal the ambitions, vulnerabilities and desires behind the roles they have played throughout their lives.

The stories and hardships of the female characters span the 20th and 21st centuries, bringing a hundred years’ worth of women’s experiences to the stage and raising several questions: How much has really changed? Who decides whether a woman is respectable or sinful? Is it true equality when women are still expected to put others first? What role does money play in the family?

Through humorous twists and emotional moments, the production connects women across their different roles: mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues. It creates space for recognition, shared laughter and catharsis, and draws audiences into a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Danka Ignjatović created the musical, with a script by Mario Ćulum and Milan Gajić, and directed it. Mladen Matović composed the music and wrote the lyrics. Danka Ignjatović, Isidora Davidović, Tara Desnica, and Selena Petrović portray the four women, with choreography by Ana Mazalica.

Press voices throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina have praised the actresses’ performances and the musical’s ability to challenge stereotypes and prejudices, describing it as a refreshing addition to Banja Luka’s theatre scene with an appeal that extends beyond a women-only audience.

Experience Women (Don’t) Go to Heaven at Theatre Akzent in Vienna on 29 October 2026 at 19:30. Buy tickets here: Theatre Akzent