FALL OF THE EMPIRE – Líšeň Theater Festival
The Festival “The Empire’s Decay” is the culmination of the three-year project of the Líšeň Theatre – Provocative Theatre. The project includes the presentation of provocative performances along with discussions. The goal is to view current events from various perspectives, with a focus on the current Russian aggression in Ukraine.
The Provocative Theatre project and the festival are expressions of our human attitudes, aiming to inspire and encourage each other towards activities leading to freedom.
In addition to the provocative performances by the Líšeň Theatre, the festival will also showcase the current work of invited groups, whose works resonate in the current war situation. We have selected two performances:
Daria Gosteva (RU): Moskva-Dačnoje
A chamber documentary puppet performance by a Russian scenographer working in Prague. Memories immerse us in a mysterious house and its bizarre inhabitants and neighbors: a singing bourgeois woman, an Afghan war veteran, siblings Dong and Jumbli, and other peculiar denizens of this close yet distant world.
Spitfire Company: The end of Man?!? Reports Written from the Kitchen
A multi-genre project about the power of the powerless influenced by reading books by Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich, who, through hundreds of interviews with witnesses, offers an alternative version of modern history as seen by ordinary people.
The festival’s opening performance will take place symbolically during the celebrations of the Day of Freedom on November 17th (in collaboration with the Brněnský sedmnáctý festival), and further events will continue until the end of the month.
Líšeň Theatre has been organizing festivals since 1999. The first one was the “Awakening from the Ruins” festival, aiming to prevent the demolition of the Dělňák Líšeň building, which started a series of dozens of festivals. Besides the festivals in Líšeň, the theater also organizes festivals in the center of Brno, reflecting its long-term and systematic focus on human rights and political topics. The first event of this kind was the 2010 festival on the theme of Putin’s Russia. Since 2016, Festivals in the Prison – About the Past and Future of Our Freedom have been held in the premises of the former prison on Cejl Street. This year’s festival continues in the spirit of these engaged festivals.
Provokující divadlo
THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE
A LÍŠEŇ THEATRE FESTIVAL
17/11 at 16.00 and 18.15
In a military tent near Jošt at Moravské náměstí
Líšeň Theatre: Putin Skis / The Play of the Birth of a Killer/
A political farce about the victims of Putin’s rule.
After the second performance, there will be a discussion with the creators and Daria Gosteva (RU)
17/11 at 17.15 and 20.45
Café Trojka, Dominikánská 9
Daria Gosteva (RU): Moskva-Dačnoje
A chamber documentary puppet performance by a Russian scenographer working in Prague.
25/11 at 19.00
Club Leitnerova, Leitnerova 2
Spitfire Company: The end of Man?!? Reports Written from the Kitchen
A multi-genre project about the power of the powerless influenced by reading books by Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich.
After the performance, there will be a discussion with the creators of the performance and guests on Russia and Ukraine.
28/11 at 19.00
Club Leitnerova, Leitnerova 2
Divadlo Líšeň: Confession of a Prison Guard
Theatrical settlement with a totalitarian past.
An answer to moments of love and horror etched into the walls of prison cells.
After the performance, there will be a discussion with Roman Mácha about disinformation.
29/11 at 19.00
Club Leitnerova, Leitnerova 2
Líšeň Theatre: Blood Hygiene
A gruesome cabaret about methods of refining the human race. Testimonies of murderers and victims. Metal puppets, scrap, and barbed wire on the stage.
After the performance, there will be a discussion with Vojtěch Boháč about Russian fascism.
At all events, it will be possible to contribute to the Memory of the Nation collection a support the purchase of medical aid and defense equipment for Ukraine.
The performances “Putin Skis / The Play of the Birth of a Killer” and “Moscow-Dacha” will take place within the Brněnský sedmnáctý event.
The festival is supported by the State Fund of Culture of the Czech Republic.
