Pictures from Insect’s Life

Karel Čapek and Josef Čapek

“I don’t want to reform anyone, either insects or humans. I’m just looking.“

An entertaining journey through the realm of insects, butterflies, dung beetles, crickets, ichneumon wasps, ants and mayflies, during which the Čapek brothers hold a microscope to all those creatures – often very beautiful at first sight – which turn out to be entirely earthbound. A closer look reveals that what they really long for are not noble ideals, but merely the lowest needs. In terms of concept, the new staging by the NTB Drama Company (Štěpán Pácl and Milan Šotek) is approached as a comedic revue with singing and dancing.

The composer of the music for the production is Jakub Kudláč, who received the Czech Lion Award and Theatre Critics’ Awards in the past. The lyrics have been written by Robin Král, a poet renowned far beyond children’s poetry. The rendition of the insect movements that often remind of dance constitutes an inseparable and highly appreciated part of the production. That is why we have invited the outstanding dancer Andrea Opavská to join our actors in order to enrich the staging with the elements of dance.

The stage and costumes have been designed by stage designer, actor and artistic director of the Spejbl and Hurvinek Theatre, David Janošek, whose previous scenic achievements, such as The Increased Difficulty of Concentration at the Reduta Theatre, or Ferdy the Ant, The Merry Widow and La bohème at the Janaček Theatre, have won great renown. For this production, too, David Janoušek together with the stage director Štěpán Pácl have created a very attractive and impressive stage setting.

Now you can start looking forward to observing fickle butterflies, greedy tumblebugs, combative ants, dancing mayflies and much more. One hundred and two years after its world premiere on the stage of the Mahen Theatre this world-famous comedy by the Čapek brothers will make it back to the same stage on October 11th, 2024.

 

Director: Štěpán Pácl
Dramaturg: Milan Šotek
Set and costumes: David Janošek
Choreographer: Andrea Opavská
Assistent of choreography: Daniela Hanelová
Music: Jakub Kudláč
Lyrics: Robin Král

 

  • „Jakub Kudláč’s vibrant music added dynamism to the plot and, together with Robin Král’s witty song lyrics, pushed the production closer to the realm of musical theatre.“— Michal Švanda, Kulturio.cz

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  • „All that insect life may sometimes appear beautiful on the outside, but inside it is often repulsive for a simple reason: the direction projects human flaws and negative traits onto it.“ — Luboš Mareček, Divadelní noviny

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