de facto theatre group (HR)
Simone Aughterlony is an independent artist based in Berlin and Zurich, known for their queer-spirited choreographic works that span dance, performance, and visual art. Over the past eighteen years, they have explored alternative forms of kinship and world-building, embracing the absurd and the phenomenology of mis-recognition. Simone's works playfully reconfigure togetherness and have been presented at major venues worldwide, including the 2018 Venice Biennale Teatro.
Notable works include Biofiction, Uni * Form (co-created with Jorge León), and the collaborative project Everything Fits In The Room with Jen Rosenblit. As a performer, Simone has collaborated with artists like Meg Stuart/Damaged Goods and Forced Entertainment. They also teach at institutions such as HZT Berlin, ZHdK Zurich, and DAS Art Amsterdam. In 2020, Simone co-founded Imbricated Real, a structure for contemporary art practice.
Simone has been recognized with numerous awards, including the City of Zürich Recognition Prize in 2011 and a Federal Office of Culture Prize in 2015. Their work has also been supported by KFV Zurich and Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council from 2006 to 2020.
Saša Božić is a Croatian theatre director and dramaturge with a strong presence in European contemporary dance. His works blur the lines between choreography and directing, often combining movement, visual imagery, and text. Saša’s projects have premiered at prominent theatres and festivals, including the Croatian National Theatre, Kaaitheatre (Belgium), and Hebbel am Ufer (Germany).
Since 2008, he has been the director of the independent arts organisation de facto and is an assistant professor at the Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb. Saša's work, created in collaboration with artists like Petra Hrašćanec, has been showcased at renowned festivals such as Impulstanz and Rencontres Choreographiques in Paris.
de facto is an independent arts organisation founded in 2008 by Saša Božić and Aleksandar Švabić. It serves as a platform for their works and collaborations with international artists working across theatre, dance, and performance. de facto explores the fluid boundaries between these forms, focusing on the performer's role within different artistic frames. The organisation regularly co-produces innovative projects that question the porosity of traditional performance structures.
Work presented at the Moving Balkans Showcase 2025: AGENDA
