Iva Hraste-Sočo, PhD, appointed general manager of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in the second term (2026-2030)From the theatre — 25. June 2025.
At its 100th session, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a decision on the reappointment of Iva Hraste-Sočo as the general manager of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb for the period from 2 September 2026 to 2 September 2030. The appointment followed a public tender, at the joint proposal of the Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, PhD, and the Mayor of the City of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević.
During her previous term, general manager Hraste-Sočo carried out several strategic and artistic initiatives that firmly positioned the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb as a notable cultural institution with international recognition in Central Europe. A diverse and up-to-date repertoire has been established, all artistic ensembles have been strengthened, international co-productions and collaborations have been intensified, material conditions for theatre employees have been improved, significant attendance has been achieved and record subscription sales have been achieved.
Also, the completion of the new stage in the fall of 2025 represents a historic step forward in the development of the CNT in Zagreb and the beginning of dynamic coexistence of the two stages, where the Drama, Opera and Ballet ensembles will perform, with the support of all services of the CNT, including the Technical and Administrative Departments. The opening of the CNT 2 in November will allow for a more diverse artistic programme, giving our audience an access to a greater variety of productions, art forms and performance experiences on both stages.
On the occasion of the reappointment, the Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek, PhD, stated:
During her first term, the general manager Hraste Sočo achieved a number of significant results that positioned the CNT in Zagreb as an internationally relevant and recognizable cultural institution in the European and world context. During this period, the theatre’s artistic initiatives were enhanced, a diverse repertoire was developed, and important advancements were made in international cooperation, audience engagement and the accessibility of programmes to a wide variety of citizens. We would like to point out that during her term, the construction of a new stage of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb on Adžijina Street was initiated, with an expected opening this autumn, initiated and funded by the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
In the programme for the upcoming four-year term, the general manager Hraste-Sočo has announced the ongoing strategic development of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, with a key focus on further enhancing the artistic ensembles and production capacities for both stages. The internationalization of theatre activities, which has already yielded impressive results in the previous period, will be further intensified through new partnerships, guest performances and collaborations with theatres in Croatia and abroad, as well as with European theatre networks. The general manager will continue with innovative approaches to audience outreach,combining digital initiatives with direct interactions with the theatre, which will foster generational, social and cultural diversity. The programme and infrastructure development policy of the CNT in Zagreb in the new term, along with artistic excellence and development, will be strongly focused on inclusiveness, sustainability and responsible management. The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb is planning to build stronger relationships with educational institutions and implement educational initiatives that combine art with education for the future audiences.
In my next term as the general manager, I envision the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb as a space of synergy of tradition and modernity, artistic excellence and social engagement — as a national theatre of a new generation, where artists and employees are satisfied, open to all citizens, rooted in the European cultural landscape and ready to shape the future of Croatian theatre, Iva Hraste-Sočo stated.
Iva Hraste-Sočo will continue to perform functions in international associations: she is a member of the board of directors of the Opera Europa, and since March 2025 she has been the vice-president of this largest European platform of opera houses — as the highest ranked Croatian representative so far. She participates in the FEDORA Prizes Biennale jury, where she, together with leading European patronage foundations, contributes to the development of new opera and ballet projects that will shape the future of the performing arts.
