Biography
In the Slovak and Czech theatre context, the Slovak director, author, performer and actress Sláva Daubnerová is known mostly for her dramatic compositions that oscillate between contemporary modern theatre and performance. The majority of her theatre art transcends the dramatic genre because of the way she uses new media and physicality, as well as she reconstructs, or deconstructs, what are mostly non-dramatic texts. As an established artist, she is often invited to work on projects in bricks-and-mortar theatres in which she has successfully directed both opera (The National Theatre Prague – D. Shostakovich: Orango & Antiformalist Rayok, Ch. Gounod: Romeo and Juliette, L. Janáček: The Excursions of Mr. Brouček and R. Shchedrin: Lolita; The State Theatre Košice – M. Piaček: 66 seasons) and drama (The Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava – S. Daubnerová: The Ten Commandments and Singing house;The Aréna Theatre Bratislava – Uprising; HaTheatre Brno – S. Daubnerová: Twilight of Males; Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe – Elfriede Jelinek: Am Königsweg). A part of her work continues to be concentrated around P.A.T., in which she conceptually explores the issues of arts through recycling artworks of renown artists. Monodramatic pieces have a standing of their own, as Daubnerová brought biographies of female artists to the stage (Magda Husáková Lokvencová, Louise Bourgeois, Francesca Woodman).
Director Sláva Daubnerová is the author of the text, visual concept as well as the stage and costume design. Among contemporary Slovak directors, Daubnerová occupies a special place owing to her specific theatre poetics, clearly defined artistic statements, stage design and constant experimentation.
Photo: Jakub Gulyás