Mont St Gumboot

Mont Silent Gumboot is the highest mountain range on the island of Great Labuan. At its centre stands the still-active Mount Holin volcano, continuously spewing unquenchable fantasy lava into the sky. The local population, a total of six (three of whom make their living fishing for sound and light), is largely occupied with grazing their own ideas in a circular area roughly the size of a child’s bedroom. When an idea escapes from a bucket or a net, there’s nothing to be done. There is a brief period of Silence. Silence is beautiful. In the Silence, flocks of stars and pineapples hover over the island. Its inhabitants eagerly await the new little settlers who, along with the bigger ones, disembark right before the Shining Gate. All the inhabitants of Mont Silent Gumboot are friendly loons. They don’t do double standards, they don’t cry wolf and – most importantly – they don’t judge (either themselves or others).

Co-created by director Jiří Ondra, scenographer Veronika Svobodová, musician Marek Doubrava and dramaturg Barbora Kamenická Pokorná, this is Drak Theatre’s first production to target children from the age of six months and their grownups. The non-narrative production, loosely inspired by art and graphic poetry, Absurdism, Surrealism, Dadaism, art brut, nonsense and nursery rhymes, offers an opportunity for a first encounter with art and a sensitive and unique opportunity to introduce babies to the world of theatrical imagination alongside their loved ones. The production follows the worldwide trend of Theatre for Early Years, which has been gaining popularity in the Czech Republic in recent years and is becoming a popular way for families to spend time with their toddlers.

About the company

Drak Theatre is located in the East Bohemian town of Hradec Králové. Its award-winning shows are aimed at both children and adults and are known throughout the world for their originality and imaginative style are based on the traditions of (East) Bohemian puppetry as well as devised theatre. Throughout its history, Drak has pioneered new methods and creative approaches, which has brought the theatre a number of awards, both national and international.