About the festival

PRAGUE CROSSROADS 

NT Drama Festival

 

The Prague Crossroads festival was launched in 2016 to commemorate Václav Havel, former Czech president and playwright. Thus commenced the history of the annual theatre festival that presents the theme of human rights and topical social and political issues through the instrument that pertains to the NT Drama and informed the personal and artistic growth of the first Czechoslovak president after the Velvet Revolution – theatre.

The Prague Crossroads festival is organised by the NT Drama, whose artistic directors are also its curators. The name refers to a crossroads of theatrical and artistic paths, where art meets the urgent need for freedom of speech and spirit. Over the years, the festival has become an item on the Czech theatre scene not only for preserving the spirit of Havel’s work and life, but also for offering a unique opportunity to see extraordinary productions created by leading international directors. 

The festival has taken many forms during the several years of its existence, from narrowly defined theme concentrated on the reflection of Havel’s dramatic and political works in European contemporary theatre to a unique curatorial selection of remarkable Czech and foreign productions from recent period. Whatever the scope, though, all the presented productions are deeply human, disturbing and exploring the boundaries of theatre.

The NT Drama has organised extraordinary theatrical encounters in the framework of the festival, and it continues to tirelessly search for all the possible purposes of its existence in these troubled times – as a place of exceptional experiences, a platform for forgotten stories, or a space for giving voice to marginalised groups. 

The festival hosted over 30 leading ensembles and artists in the past seven years, such as Angélica Liddell, Ivan Vyrypaev, Romeo Castellucci, Tiago Rodrigues, Rabih Mroué, Mapa Teatro and Dakh Teatr, and many others.

Meeting is the key leitmotif of the festival – meeting of the audiences with the world’s leading theatre artists and performers, meeting of the NT Drama community and the guests from abroad, and meeting of theatre professionals, critics and other theatre enthusiasts.

Workshops led by artists who present their productions at the festival are an important and integral part of the festival. The workshops are and generally intended for students of theatre schools and the professional public. The festival thus fulfils its aim, i.e. meeting, also as an educational platform.

Nina Jacques
Programmer of the Festival and Dramaturg of the National Theatre Drama