Caslavska TOKYO 1964

Caslavka TOKYO 1964 is not a historical reconstruction, but a fictional story with fantastical, fairy-tale motifs that stem from real-life events. In addition to the birth of sports legend Věra Čáslavská, who won the hearts of both the Czech and Japanese public in her time, the production also tells another story. Performed by a half-Czech and half-Japanese company of puppeteers, the production also explores our shared and differing characteristics and the inspiration we can draw from one another. Audiences of all ages, from children to adults, can join them and embark on this journey of discovery. Two sports commentators – one Japanese and one Czech – take us through the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, just like in a live sports broadcast. They commentate, narrate and translate everything that unfolds. This makes the story comprehensible and, at the same time, partly mysterious for both Japanese and Czech audiences. The production combines various forms of puppet, object and shadow theatre with projections.

About the company

The Alfa Theatre’s forerunner, the Children’s Theatre, opened in September 1966 at the ALFA premises on Americká street in Pilsen. In 1992, it moved to a modern building at Rokycanská 7, where it re-opened under its current name. Since 1970, the theatre has undertaken over 100 international tours and has co-organised the SKUPA’s PILSEN festival since 1967. Under the leadership of managing director Jakub Hora (appointed in 2015), the theatre’s current creative team, external colleagues and ten-strong company of actors have preferred a comedic approach and continue to centre the puppet as an unusually compelling stage phenomenon. ALFA Theatre performs for a broad range of spectators, including children, young people and adults. The repertoire is varied in both theme and genre, from classic and modern fairytales to world drama.