About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Balkan Retreat is a unique space for creative processes of small groups.
Our charming rural accommodation and work spaces immersed in nature create the ambience needed for focus and inspiration. Our values of space, time and freedom were there from the beginning and have been integrated into the location and facilities. As creatives ourselves and experienced hosts, we understand from first hand the needs of our guests.
The Balkan Retreat honours the intrinsic value of our natural environment and aims to be sustainable - working with nature, not against it. This includes our inner nature too. Retreating is not running away from but towards the resilient and creative futures we need to build together.
Our Story
The Balkan Retreat is itself a creative process.
Founders and theatre-makers Vivien von Abendorff (UK) and Tim Zweije (NL) moved from London to Bešenovački Prnjavor in 2017. As they slowly renovated the old farm buildings and engaged in permaculture gardening, a vision started organically to emerge.
Positive experiences of early visitors who were enchanted by the place and experienced memorable encounters with other guests and the local community, affirmed they were on to something special. The Balkan Retreat started to grow into a place where creative endeavours, intercultural dialogue, homesteading practices and environmental awareness and care intersect and reinforce one another.
After 7 years of hard work, the Balkan Retreat is bearing the fruits of its labour. Exciting new projects have come to the door. It has been an unexpected and extraordinary journey - as all creative processes should be!
WHO WE ARE
Tim Zweije
Owner - Balkan Retreat
Founder & Director - Balkan Producing House
Tim has worked since 1998 on over 35 productions in film, television and theatre, as an actor, director and writer, having graduated at the Theatre Academy of Maastricht (NL) in 2007 with a BA in Acting and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London (UK) with a MA in Text & Performance (2011). He is currently a PhD candidate in theatre at the Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, researching his big passion of the epic hero and mythical archetypes. In the Netherlands, he works as a "Trainingsactor" in aggression/non-violent communication. On top of all this he is an amazing chef, a creative homesteader and by now a very handy man!
Vivien von Abendorff
Owner - Balkan Retreat
Founder and President of the Board - Balkan Producing House
With a BA in English Studies (Hons) from the University of Nottingham (2009) and an MA in Text and Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (2011) in London, Vivien worked as a theatre-maker (actor, director, writer) and tutored English language and literature for exclusive clients all over the world. With her multi-talents - including painting and writing (she is currently developing two children's books) - she has been the driving force behind this project. Vivien was recently Community Manager for Dialoguing @rts in the local community where she lives, and now facilitates drama workshops and devised theatre with local children. Her natural vigour is also responsible for many of the ecological processes at the retreat (she holds a Permaculture Design Certificate), she is developing a Nature Connection experiential walk and if you are curious about your future, ask Vivien for a Tarot card reading.
we have worked with
