The Best of the Czech Theatre Photography Showcase

Arts and Theatre Institute, Prague

Theatre Photography Showcase (21th Century) by Andrea Theil LhotákováENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

Theatre Photographs

Theatre photographs are an important source of knowledge for learning about history, and this is why they have been a significant part of the collections maintained by the Theatre Institute ever since it was first established in 1959. 

Systematic Attention

The Arts and Theatre Institute (ATI) has been focusing more systematic attention on this phenomenon over the past few years.

Seven Samurai. Masopust Theatre (21th Century) by Patrik BoreckýENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

Czech Theatre Photography

Long-term research on this topic culminated in the extensive Czech Theatre Photography: 1859-2017 exhibition, as well as the production of an eponymous publication. A deeper level of familiarity with the field led to the decision to start a new Czech Theatre Photography.

Virtual Study

From the long-term perspective, the Institute´s most important project is its continuously updated database – the Virtual Study.

Masopust Theatre

The photograph was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2018. It won third prize in the category Production / Performance Project. The photo was taken during the Seven Samurai production, which was a theatre adaptation of a famous film directed by Akira Kurosawa. 

Locus Focus, Min Tanaka. (21th Century) by Viktor KronbauerENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

Intimate Monographs

It contains over 450,000 photographs and is available to both the professional and the general public on the internet.

By Viktor Kronbauer

Our most recent project is focused on current production: since 2018 the Arts and Theatre Institute has been organising the Showcase of Theatre Photography, inspired by similar competitions abroad (Novi Sad, Warsaw, Bratislava), photographed by Viktor Kronbauer.

Penthesilea. Schauspielhaus Bochum, Prague (21th Century) by Viktor KronbauerENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

The Prize Winners

Presenting prize-winning photographs of the last two years of the competition. 

Ordinary People. Archa Theatre (21th Century) by Jakub HrabENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Jakub Hrab

The photograph by Jakub Hrab was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2018. It won first prize in the category Production/Performance Project.

The photo was taken during Ordinary People production (Archa Theatre, Prague) which was created by Czech and Chinese artists together.

Directly in front of the viewers' eyes in a constantly changing scene. The production was directed by Jana Svobodová and Wen Hui, light design by Pavel Kotlík. In the photo Jiang Fan.

Frailty, Thy Name is Woman. National Theatre - The New Stage (21th Century) by Petr NeubertENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Petr Neubert

The photograph was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2018. It won second prize in the category Portrait in Character. 

The photo was taken during Frailty, Thy Name is Woman, production in the National Theatre.

The production was directed by Daniel Špinar, stage design by Lucia Škandíková, light design by Pavla Beranová. In the photo - Karel Dobrý.

Shadow Meadow. Alfred in the Couryard Theatre (21th Century) by Adéla VosičkováENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Adéla Vosičková

The photograph taken by Adéla Vosičková was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2018. It won first prize in the category Portrait in Character. The photo was taken during Shadow Meadow production in the Alfred in the Courtyard Theatre. 

The production was directed by Jan Mocek, light design by David Prokopič. In the photo Irina Andreeva. 

Faust. Drak Theatre (21th Century) by Anna BenešováENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Anna Benešová

The photograph by Anna Benešová was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2020. It won third prize in the Professionals category. The photo was taken during Faust production of Drak Theatre (2018), one of the most prominent Czech puppet theatres.

The production was directed by Jakub Vašíček, stage designed by Kamil Bělohlávek, costume designed by Tereza Venclová, puppet designed by Jiří Bareš. In the photo Jan Popelka and Pavel Černík. 

Yellow Darkness. Archa Theatre (21th Century) by Jakub HrabENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Jakub Hrab

The photograph taken by Jakub Hrab was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2020. It won second prize in the Professionals category and Czech Photo Prize. The photo was taken during Petr Nikl solo performance in Archa Theatre. The scenographer was Ondřej Eremiáš. 

Yellow Darkness, Archa Theatre, Prague (2018) director and performer Petr Nikl, stage designer Ondřej Eremiáš, light designer Patrik Sedlák.

Theatre of European Regions International Festival (21th Century) by Tomáš LelekENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Tomáš Lelek

The photograph was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2018. It won Special Mention and Czech Photo Prize in the Students open category: Any Theatrical Subject. The photo was taken in the backstage of the Theatre of European Regions Festival in Hradec Králové.

Backstage of Theatre of European Regions International Festival, Hradec Králové (2017) the puppets from Mud on head production of Drak Theatre, puppet designer Marek Zákostelecký.  

Penthesilea. Schauspielhaus Bochum, Prague (21th Century) by Viktor KronbauerENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Viktor Kronbauer

The photograph was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2020. It won first prize in the Professionals category

The festival is a prestigious show of international drama productions and theatre projects from the entire German-speaking area. 

The photo is from the production of Penthesilea of Schauspielhaus Bochum directed by Johan Simons, stage designed by Johannes Schütz, costume designed by Nina von Me.

Vertical Dance. The Flock Project, Prague Quadrennial (21th Century) by Alžběta JungrováENICPA. European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts

By Alžběta Jungrová

The photograph taken by Alžběta Jungrová was part of the Showcase of Czech Theatre Photography, 2020. It won Special Mention in the Professionals category. The photo was taken during the Vertical Dance performance, which took place in the Prague Quadrennial 2019.

In the photo Sophie Zoletnit, Gaia Santuccio and Agnes Simor. PQ is a festival of scenography globally known as a two-week event taking place every four years since 1967 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Credits: Story

Anna Cvrčková, Ondřej Svoboda

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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