Pneu

Four bodies and hundreds of kilograms of tires come together in a physically demanding performance that explores the fragile relationships between people and their environment. Dominating the scenography and dictating human behaviour, an unpredictable pile of tires gradually transforms into living, dynamic architecture. PNEU is a performative playground where rules disappear and reappear unexpectedly, chaos becomes structure, and imbalance emerges as a driving force.
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From the very beginning of his career, Viktor Černický has taken the field of performing arts by storm, impressing audiences with his refreshing ideas and earning multiple awards for his distinctive style. The Swedish network Dansnät Sverige hails him as a visionary and rising hope for theatrical art. In his latest project, PNEU, inspired by the theory of antifragility, he presents a scenic essay on effort, exhaustion and the renewal of strength and about the desire to preserve lightness even when everything seems to collapse, and the space where disorder becomes fertile ground for discovering new meaning.
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Introduced by philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the concept of antifragility describes a state in which a system or an object needs disorder, chaos and pressure in order to grow. While something fragile or vulnerable may break or deteriorate under stress, an antifragile entity improves and strengthens. The human immune system and muscles are examples of such systems. Not only do antifragile systems grow through exertion — they actually weaken when left in comfort.
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Sharing discomfort and effort — that’s what connects us and allows us to transcend our own being. We are a community of restlessness.

About the company

Viktor Černický is a choreographer, performer, dramaturg, and educator, creating works that combine elements of dance, physical theatre, circus and the visual arts. Working across artistic fields, he allows both the process and materials to shape the form and dramaturgy of each individual project. The core of his work lies in the relational and dialogical aspects of the performing arts as communication, a non-institutional public service, a physical reflection, or the exploration of ambivalent subject-object relationships.
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Viktor’s work has been widely presented and recognised on European and Asian stages and festivals, including The Place (London), Tai Kwun (Hong Kong), Dansens Hus (Stockholm) and Teatre Lliure (Barcelona). He is the first Czech choreographer to be programmed at Théâtre de la Ville in Paris. The European contemporary dance network Aerowaves included his production PLI in its Twenty20 catalogue; the performance also toured the Dancenet Sweden network. As part of the two-year project Shape It, Viktor reimagined the artistic process in collaboration with young audiences across Europe. In PRIMA, co-produced internationally as part of the Be SpectACTive project, he invites groups of local residents to take their place on stage. Both of these works became part of the Czech Performance Collection.
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In addition to his own work, he has collaborated and performed with artists and companies such as Alban Richard (FR), Cie Beau Geste (FR), Thomas Steyaert (B), Sonja Pregrad (HR/DE), Cirk La Putyka (CZ) and Compagnie Mossoux-Bonté (B), among others. Since 2019, Viktor has been a guest lecturer at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He is a co-founder and artistic co-director of the ZDRUHESTRANY company.