Enchantia

When the British writer and naturalist Gerald Durrell’s book The Talking Parcel was published in 1974, he unveiled to his readers Mythologia, a wondrous realm in which mythical beings and animals live and marvellous plants grow, a land governed by unusual natural laws. Several decades later, in 2009, a team headed by Marko Ivanović and Petr and Matěj Forman decided to continue in Durrell’s research. In the underground of the National Theatre they discovered a secret gate to Mythologia, which they named Enchantia, and began exploring what had happened there since Durrell’s time. Our team found out that the mythical creatures communicate among themselves by means of song, and that once every fifty years they gather at a grand ceremony at which new inhabitants are recorded in the magical Singing Book. Researchers have persuaded the mythical creatures to appear on the National Theatre stage so as to be introduced to child/adult audiences.

About the company

As one of the symbols of Czech national identity, the National Theatre is the vessel of the nation’s cultural heritage and at the same time an arena for free artistic creativity. The Czech National Opera continues to develop its vibrant and innovative repertoire made up of classics by Czech and world composers and by new works from innovative composers. The Opera regularly invites international conductors, directors, designers and other artists to cooperate with local artists to create innovative and sometimes controversial new productions.