Description from Divadlo Komedie

ince 2002, Prague’s Komedie Theatre has been home to the Prague „chamber“ theatre ensemble Pražské komorní divadlo (PKD). This ensemble was founded in 1998 and its productions over the last few years have demonstrated the elevated height of its artistic and professional skills. The Prague-based Komedie Theatre is one of the most progressive professional ensembles in the Czech Republic. Its dramaturgy focuses mainly on contemporary Czech, Austrian and German drama with its roots in the modernism of the inter-War period, as well as on other stage ventures that surpass the boundaries of traditional theatre. In Komedie one may encounter not only renowned actors of all generations but also Czech and world premieres of contemporary plays, physical theatre performances and other projects that reflect current trends in music and the fine arts. Many of the texts Komedie stages for the first time in Czech Republic have already become part of the traditional repertoire in other European theatres. Komedie thus seeks to complement the broad spectrum of Czech theatre production with a comprehensive overview of post-war Central European drama that includes authors such as Thomas Bernhard, Werner Schwab, George Tabori or this year’s winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, Elfriede Jelinek. Besides this principal dramatic thread which forms the basic ideological structure of the repertoire, projects in the framework of the „Open Stage“ (“Otevřená scéna”) are also featured. These are co-productions of which some are guest performances, carefully selected in accordance with the entire concept and face of the theatre. The defining elements of this category of project in comparison with the theatre’s basic repertoire do not only concern the performing company, but also the strength and distinction of the dramaturgy, artistic diversity and conviction in the approach of the producer to the compilation of the programme. PKD made the decision to adopt the conceptual approach of open theatre for its work in Komedie, the organisation and running of which is undertaken by the smallest of artistic-production teams. Contrary to customary practice, therefore, neither PKD’s actors nor a proportion of its technical staff are in its employee ratio. Komedie Theatre‘s unique programme over the last three years has been greatly enhanced by its distinguished ensemble of actors including Karel Roden, Daniela Kolářová, Saša Rašilov, Vanda Hybnerová, Alois Švehlík, Martin Pechlát, Roman Zach, Martin Finger, Gabriela Míčová, Jiří Štrébl, and others. Komedie‘s work has gained it a prominent position not only among Czech theatre houses but also in the context of Central European theatre. Its participation at international festivals and its numerous guest performances at renowned European theatres offer undeniable proof of this.