The Case Švejk

“It is strange that the greatest humoristic novel of our century should deal with the most brutal thing we can image: war.”
Milan Kundera

Until today, the extent of violence and anarchy inherent in Jaroslav Hašek’s epochal novel was but scantly appreciated or lost in translations and interpretations. The folklore of war proved more popular than its realistic depiction. But what if Hašek were taken literally by choosing his psychological study of the eternal hanger-on – no matter whether of Czech nationality or any other origin – as the starting point for a court case?

D. D. Pařízek works regularly for leading theatres in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic and now presents his first production for Wiener Festwochen. In co-operation with the Studio Hrdinů Theatre, he and his international ensemble inquire into recriminations, explanations and justifications for the war that nobody wanted.
It is a day of hearings at the courthouse; the official language is German. On trial: the case of a “good” soldier…

About the company

Studio Hrdinů is an open theatre space notable for its clearly defined dramaturgy and a distinctive circle of theatre collaborators. The main dramaturgical line is based on original directorial projects, with an emphasis on international productions, transcending genres and boundaries of artistic disciplines. Studio Hrdinů strives for a challenging, yet understandable dramaturgy. Formally, the production of Studio Hrdinů is drama, giving prominence to the experimental approach and artistic aspects.