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ArtsThe Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre
Vít Hořejš established the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre in
1990 after coming into possession of old puppets that had been gathering
dust for decades in the attic of an old Czech church. The group’s
performances – often based on classic Czech tales – feature both
puppets and live actors. When I visited its studio in Brooklyn, Vít, a
Czech who’s been living in New York for decades, told me all about the
origins and activities of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre.
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ArtsBuchty a Loutky – A minority among minorities in Czech puppet theatre
There are various marionette theatres in the Czech Republic but few which
enjoy as cutting edge a reputation as Buchty a Loutky (Cake &
Puppets),
a troupe founded in Prague in the early 1990s which took Czech theatre in
new directions. The group’s name is a take on the famous Bread &
Puppet Theatre based in the US since the 1960s, known for serving free
bread to the audience as a means of creating community. One of the
group’s founders, Marek Becka, explains naming his troupe Buchty a
Loutky
was a bit of a joke, not without a measure of irony. More
MailboxMailbox
This week in Mailbox: Masaryk Avenue in Mexico City; Czech puppeteer Jiri
Trnka; Prague public transport fare hikes; Gipsy.cz on SoundCzech.
Listeners quoted: Fernando Portugal, James Olson, David Snelgrove, John
Novotney, JC Lockwood.
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Czechs in HistoryJiri Trnka: an artist who turned puppets into film stars
It would be hard to meet a Czech whose childhood was not touched (perhaps
unconsciously) by the art of Jiri Trnka, a painter, puppeteer, illustrator
and above all, the founding father of Czech animated film. His poetic
drawings brought immortality to books that would otherwise be long
forgotten. And his animated films bestowed dozens of puppets and drawings
with life.
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MailboxMailbox
Topics discussed in this week's Mailbox: The legendary Czech animator Jiri
Trnka, writer Karolina Svetla, Czech records in the javelin throw.
Listeners quoted: Jean-Claude Bonnard, Colin Law, Aloisie Krasny, and
Mogire Omachuki.
More
SpecialAmateur puppet theatre entertaining children in Prague`s Old Town for almost 90 years
Only a few blocks away from the Old Town Square is the oldest permanent
puppet theatre in the Czech Republic. It is called Rise loutek (Kingdom of
Puppets in English) and despite its fame and a tradition of almost 80 years
it has always been largely made up of amateurs. Currently, Rise loutek has
about 40 members, performs every Saturday and Sunday, and premiers two
pieces per season. Klara Lichtagova has been with the theatre for eighteen
years.
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PanoramaUnleashing the (Czech) Puppetmaster Within
Puppet theatre has been an integral part of Czech culture for centuries,
and few tourists leave Prague without taking in a performance of Don
Giovanni or the Marriage of Figaro, or at least bringing home a
marionette, be it a devil or angel, king or court jester. Children here
grow up on characters like Spejbl and Hurvinek; the Academy of Performing
Arts (DAMU) even offers a masters degree in "alternative and puppet
theatre direction." So little wonder that enthusiasts from around the
world journey to Prague to take workshops under master Czech puppet-makers
like
Miroslav Trejtnar. We caught up with Mirek and some of his students this
week. More
