Programme of the Archa Theatre for September 2001
Wednesday, September 19
8 p.m.
Piškanderdulá
Subtitled: Josef!
Wooden puppets in the likenesses of dancers, acrobats, knights, horses, Grim Reapers, or jesters, old clockwork music boxes. This widely-acclaimed performance by Věra Říčařová and František Vítek has made its mark in the history of modern puppetry and returns to Archa Theatre after a long absence.
Thursday, September 20
8 p.m.
Piškanderdulá
Friday, September 28
8 p.m.
Questioning Heaven in Despair (Marné Tázání Nebes)
A sino-baroque performance
Directed by: J. A. Pitínský
Lead Role: Feng-Jün Song
The Archa Theatre's new project premieres. A theatrical and musical piece in which contemporary culture meets with the mysterious and fascinating worlds of Chinese Opera and Baroque Theatre.
The story of an early 18th century Czech Jesuit mission to the court of the Chinese Emperor; a story representative of all those who, far from home and surrounded by a foreign culture, experience delight and amazement, alienation and fear, while trying to find the common groundbetween cultures. The performance weaves together elements of the Peking Opera - such as Chinese singing, acrobatics, martial arts - with baroque music and the principles of baroque theatre. Composer Petr Hromádka has linked unique Chinese arias and baroque compositions with contemporary electronic music. Tomáš Rusín's set design respects the principles of baroque theatre while Zuzana Štefunková's costume designs draw from the symbols of both cultures. The main role is played by Peking Opera singer Feng-Jün Song in juxtaposition with opera singers Martin Matoušek, Petr Matuszek, Tereza Roglová, Marika Žáková. Czech, Chinese and Latin are spoken in the performance. Story and concept by Aleš Roleček, Ondřej Hrab, and Jana Svobodová.
The performance was created as an ancillary project of "The Glory of the Baroque in Bohemia" exhibition, with the support of the City of Prague.
Saturday, September 29
8 p.m.
Questioning Heaven in Despair
Sunday, September 30
8 p.m.
Questioning Heaven in Despair
Monday, October 1
8 p.m.
Questioning Heaven in Despair
Tuesday, October 2
8 p.m.
Questioning Heaven in Despair
Also as part of "The Glory of the Baroque in Bohemia" exhibition:
October 15, 8 p.m.
Homage to Father Konias
An evening devoted to the controversial personality of Father Konias and his book-burnings. Premier screening of the Stanislav Zeman film of the same name. Discussion with experts on the baroque.
October 25 - 28, 8 p.m.
Dance macabre in Kutná Hora
The themes of plagues, human destiny and the courage to struggle against it in a performance with two interconnected aspects: dance choreographed by Jan Kodet and theatre directed by Martin Tichý. Linking provocative dance and tender lyrics from the workshop of internationally acclaimed choreographer Jan Kodet with the poetry of Baroque poet Bedrich Bridel, the piece is directed by a new personality of the Czech theatre scene, giving the subject matter a new, contemporary dimension.