The New Scene, which from the beginning of the 1990’s has housed Laterna Magica, belongs again to the National Theatre. It will be used for drama, dance, movement theatre, new circus and other forms of alternative art.
The National Theatre is also going to spread outside the enclosed buildings. Piazzetta and the foyer will serve for children’s events as well as street theatre and happenings and a café will be open on the 2nd floor. The café should also serve for discussion and literary programmes.
The New Scene will be opened to the Public on 16th January with Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot starring Ondřej Pavelka, David Prachař, David Matásek and Jan Kačer. In February, a play about Czechoslovakia – Stoppard’s Rock'n'roll, which includes a concert by the band The Plastic People of the Universe – will move to the New Scene. The play is directed by Ivan Rajmont and stars David Prachař, Jan Hartl, Alois Švehlík, Ondřej Pavelka and Miluše Šplechtová.
March will see the first night of Edward Bond’s play Spaseni (Redemption) and also a play by the Nobel Prize winner Elfrieda Jelineková entitled Co se stalo, když Nora opustila manžela (What Happened When Nora Left her Husband). This text as well as Waiting for Godot will be directed by Michal Dočekal.
The Artistic Director of Laterna Magika, which has been the fourth artistic ensemble of the National Theatre since 1st January, is Zdeněk Prokeš, the Chief Operating Officer is Štěpán Kubišta. For the last two years, Laterna Magika has been an allowance organization established by the Ministry of Culture. It will share the stage with the artistic ensembles of the Czech First Scene, the rest should function as an “open stagione” and bring money to the National Theatre’s budget for commercial rents. According to the Director of the National Theatre, Ondřej Černý, the aim of the changes are to make the New Scene more visible, open and to provide space for the theatre of 21st century.
More information at www.nova-scena.cz
Source: ČTK
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