Kašpárek and Zbojník | Perform Czech

Did you know that Czechoslovak puppetry is on the UNESCO World Heritage List? It’s true! Czech and Slovak puppeteers, along with their loyal audiences, have earned worldwide recognition for the long-standing efforts of generations of our predecessors. Contemporary Czech and Slovak puppeteers have now gathered to join forces, combining the best of their skills and traditions to celebrate this important success together. And how better to celebrate the Czechoslovak puppet tradition than with the première of a brand new, yet entirely traditional and, above all, perfectly Czechoslovak puppet play? We’ve searched theatre storerooms, archives and museums on both sides of the Morava River and organised public collections and finally, it’s time to present the results of all this effort to you. And now, ladies and gentlemen, the Registered Association of Czech and Slovak puppeteers presents a traditional Czechoslovak puppet play: Kašpárek and Zbojník!

The 30th anniversary of the dissolution of Czechoslovakia offers a unique opportunity for theatrical reflection on an extraordinary phenomenon: the uniquely close relationship between two nations whose shared historical development lasted 75 years and is likely unprecedented. But how do we perceive this phenomenon today? How is it perceived by children in both countries, for whom coexistence in a shared state is now just a chapter in the history books? We want to examine these questions through a Czech/Slovak production that uses an original story to examine the current relationship between Czechs and Slovaks from various angles. The political framework of Czechoslovakia has disappeared and the joint television programs are also gone, so what’s to link them? Actually, quite a bit, as it turns out.

About the company

Based in Hradec Králové, DRAK Theatre is informed by the (East) Bohemian puppetry tradition and principles of devised productions that draw on imagination and originality to create work for both children and adults. Throughout its history, DRAK has pioneered new methods and creative approaches, which have brought the theatre many national and international awards.