Czech Theatre Night Is One of the Three Largest Events in European Theatre Night

Theatre Night took place in the Czech Republic for the first time in 2013. Over 80 amateur and profession theatres and ensembles in 25 towns and cities across Bohemia and Moravia took part. The theatres prepared samples of performances and concerts for visitors as well as tours behind the scenes and various workshops. The scale of the event in the Czech Republic and the number of visitors it had ranked Czech Theatre Night alongside Croatia and Slovakia as the biggest events in the entire European Theatre Night project. The event received positive feedback from the media and the public and also from the theatres themselves, more than 100 of which have already announced their participation in 2014. The ATI has prepared a number of new things for 2014, such as introducing the ‘Year of Czech Music’ as a collective theme and the Theatre Night Bicycle Ride. The ATI, main coordinator of the event, is continuing preparations for Theatre Night 2014 which falls on 15 November. The event is expected to see an increase in interest in the event among the public and theatres by one-third over last year. Theatres are already planning ways to enrich their own and group programmes within individual towns. Like last year, Theatre Night promises extraordinary theatre experiences, such as interactive programmes, games, and competitions, and the joint promotion of theatres across the country, for instance, through exhibitions of photographs from productions by collaborating theatres. Czech Theatre Night is part of the international European Theatre Night, the main organiser of which is its founder, Dubrava Cultural Centre in Croatia. ‘The date European Theatre Night takes place is the same for all participating countries, the third Saturday in November. Last year ten countries (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia) and 400 theatres and institutions in 120 towns and cities took part in European Theatre Night. The biggest participation was witnessed in Croatia, where over 90 subjects took part in 2013’, says Leo Vukelić, coordinator of European Theatre Night. In 2013 the project was organised for the first time in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, with participation from 80 theatres and ensembles in 25 towns and cities across Bohemia and Moravia, it ranked next to Croatia and Slovenia as one of the three largest events. To date 107 theatre companies in 29 Czech towns have registered for year two. ‘Newcomers’ include Vinohrady Theatre, J. K. Tyl Theatre Pilsen, and DIOD in Jihlava. Czech Theatre Night is planning some new things for 2014. One is the thematic focus on Czech music in reference to the current Year of Czech Music. The Theatre Night programme will therefore include concerts, musical performances, and operas – for example, Brno’s BURANTEATR is preparing a sample of the anti-musical by Petr Michálek Domeček (Little Abode), which will have its world premiere, Ostrava Puppet Theatre will offer music workshops with an instructor. The ATI will open its Information Centre on its premises but this time will also open its building up to the public with a special programme of screenings and entertaining lectures for visitors. Other novelties include the Theatre Night Bicycle Ride the ATI is preparing in cooperation with AUTOMAT, where everyone from avid cyclists to families with children will be able to set out on wheels. For pedestrian visitors in Prague several thematically oriented activities are also in the works. This year the ATI is strengthening its online campaign through social networks. As well as regularly publishing updates on its website (www.nocdivadel.cz), from the start of July till the middle of October all the participating theatres will have a presentation on Facebook. Theatre Night encompasses every form and genre of performance, from dance, to pantomime, to straight drama and music theatre, and includes amateurs as well as professionals and the brick-and-mortar theatres. Everyone interested in Theatre Night 2014 can look forward to enjoying a rich and diverse programme across the Czech Republic come November. Source: Arts and Theatre Institute