Programme and tickets

How we played for the republic

Our grandparents used to tell us that “Those who play never go astray”, but did you know that you can actually become a hero by playing and acting? Come and find out how in this story about four brothers who were puppeteers and members of the Czechoslovak Legion and were so brave that they managed to play puppet theatre even when they were in great danger. They helped establish the independent Czechoslovak Republic, so it’s thanks to them that we can play here today, proudly and bravely, just as Antonín, Matěj, Vojta and Jindra Kopecký did back then.

Based on a true story.

Jan Jirků has created numerous productions on historical topics for Minor  (Hunt for Jednorožec, Lipany, Zá-to-pek!), in which he brings the stories to life for family audiences through a compelling portrayal of the lead characters’ life stories. This time he looks at the lives of the Kopecký brothers, who played puppet theatre even during the First World War and whose puppetry skills brought joy to others in situations we can only begin to imagine.

Strobe lighting is used in this production!

For schools we offer an accompanying educational workshop entitled Soldiers’ Watch.

The production was awarded the Theatre Critics’ Prize for the stage design by Jakub Kopecký.

At the Skupova Plzeň 2022 festival this production won four awards – one for the script and direction by Jan Jirků, one for the stage design by Jakub Kopecký, one for the music by Jiří Hradil, and four for outstanding performances by actors Václav Jelínek, Bořek Joura, Pavol Smolárik and Gustav Hašek.

Actor Gustav Hašek won the 2022 Thalia Award in the puppet theatre category. Pavol Smolárik and Václav Jelínek were shortlisted in the same category, while Radka Pavlovčinová, Bořek Joura and Ondřej Nosálek were also nominated.

Jan Jirků and Jakub Kopecký won the Theatre News Award 2022 in the Puppet and artistic theatre category.

The production was also awarded the 2022 Erik Prize at the One Flew over the Puppeteer’s Nest festival.

Première 22 September 2021
Suitable for ages 9 and above.
Performance duration 1 hour 35 minutes including interval. 

An interactive performance based on forum theater technique

To have the opportunity to tease someone can be very tempting. Especially, if it can bring you admiration of your friends. Especially in your class! Especially in front of the teacher! Especially, when you can!

Where is the line between fun, impertinence and bullying? What is acceptable in behavior towards classmates and teachers, and what is too much?

In our story children meet with characters who keep breaking the boundaries until something happens…

The program of the workshop
1. Introduction to the topic of bullying (in the form of activation games and exercises)
2. Viewing of short themed story (theater performance)
3. Searching for different solutions to the story (taking the place of the character and acting on his or her behalf)
4. Reflection on the experience and topic (discussion and closing group activity)

Forum theater is a technique that teaches us in key moments to look for different solutions and act accordingly. What are my options of changing something? In our story children uncover situations in which the course of action could have been taken differently and better, and by stepping into the characters’ shoes they have the chance to change the outcome of the story for the better.

Forum theater is an educational system based on working with a pre-prepared theater performance played by professional actors. The goal is to transfer the notion that if children can change the course of events on the stage, they are capable of doing the same in real life.

The performance It was only a joke!was co-created by the actors, director, psychologist, and expert on children’s education. The project was initiated due to the increase of aggression and bullying at schools that teachers are often victims of also. During discussions on the topic educationalists showed interest in the particular concept of theater performance.

Target audience: grade 3 – 5
Number of attendees: 45 children/ 2 classes
Duration: 90 minutes

This performance is presented on the Small Stage of Minor Theater.

Thirty thousand spectators shouted this name in Helsinki in 1952 as he ran into the stadium as the first runner in a marathon run to win his third long-distance gold medal. Everyone around the world is able to run, but only he managed to run to win three times at one Olympic Games. 5km. 10km. Marathon. Nobody before or after could do that as long as the world exists. It is quite possible that nobody would be able to do it again. How interesting is it? How interesting is that person? How interesting is the time period in which he lived?

Recommended to viewers of 8 years of age and older
Duration 1 hour 30 minutes including the intermission Premiere 6 October, 2019.