Balalance

Balalance is a giraffe story from the savannah for viewers aged 10 months to 3 years.
Heat, wind, stone and a tree. A tree with a leaf on it. The greenest leaf. But how to reach it?
​
Standing firmly on your feet for the first time and looking at the world from above is no easy task. Especially when you have long legs, a long neck, and you’re a giraffe. Maybe all it takes is a little courage. But why is the juiciest leaf so high up?!
​
Balalance is a gentle story about finding balance, the courage to grow and discover so we can learn about the world around us, and the confidence we need to stand on our own two feet.
​
For children aged 10 months to 3 years and their parents.
Premiere: October 5, 2025
Duration: 40 minutes

Cast: Ema Brezinová, Karolína Kubešová
Director: Michaela Váňová
Set design: Iva Ščerbáková
Music: Ondřej Rychlý
​
The project was created with the support of the City of Prague and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.

About the company

Damúza was founded in 1999 by students at DAMU – the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Today, Damúza is a production unit supporting emerging theatre performers and ambitious projects by students and recent graduates of DAMU. We focus on original productions, especially puppet, art and object theatre for children and adults. We provide young, early-career artists with an opportunity to realise their own theatre projects and gain experience in the field. To professional artists, we offer independence, creative freedom and opportunities for experimentation and self-expression.
​
The core of our repertoire consists of puppet performances for families with children, with young audiences treated as an equal partner. We also aim to ensure that parents enjoy spending time with their children at the theatre.
​
Since 2014, we have been developing theatre for early years in the Czech Republic. To date, we have produced over 10 performances for this audience and organise the KUK Festival throughout Czechia. In 2024, Damúza is set to open the first Czech venue for early years audiences – Theatre KUK.
​
However, in our view, puppet theatre isn’t solely intended for children. In collaboration with the artistic group Fekete Seretlek, we create music and theatre projects for adults, which are showcased on various stages and festivals in the Czech Republic and abroad.
​
Our performances have appeared in 15 European countries, including Italy, France, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Armenia, Georgia and Montenegro, and in Japan and Brazil.
​
Damúza boasts a repertoire of over 50 productions for families with children and adults alike. In a typical year, we stage almost 450 shows.