Letní Letná festival offers Prague a carnival of the best new circus and theatre

Up on Letná Hill, overlooking the Vltava, the spectacular programme of this year’s Letní Letná international festival of new circus and theatre was inaugurated on August 13th. It runs until the end of the month. The festival attracts acts from across the world and thousands of visitors each year, who come to Letná Park for whole days full of fun, as the festival’s executive director, Ivana Pěkná Vrbíková, explained to Danny Bate.

Ivana Pěkná Vrbíková|Photo: Michael Erhart, Czech Radio

For people who are not familiar with the Letní Letná Festival, could you introduce it for us? What would you say is the spirit of this festival?

“The basis is new circus, contemporary circus, a genre which includes unlimited theatre, music, dance. It's like a cocktail of these different disciplines.”

And this is very much an international programme that you have organised for us. From which countries can people see performances this year?

“For the moment, we have seven countries, but for the main programme, the headliners come from Canada and France. So, we can see Duel Reality by The 7 Fingers, and People Watching, also from Canada. The three French companies are Akoreacro, Max & Maurice and Bêtes de foire. The best performances we've seen in the past year in the world.”

So people are coming all the way from Canada just to perform on Letná! This seems like a big programme that you have put together. When did you start organising it and contacting the acts?

The 7 Fingers|Photo: Letní Letná

“Usually for these companies, which are among the biggest, we have to start two years ahead, to be able to secure the timing for August. Most of them are quite successful and they are touring and planning for touring one year ahead.”

Letná is a gorgeous place to have this festival, overlooking the city centre of Prague, but it's also a public space. How does it actually work, this festival? How do people attend and get tickets?

“They can look at the programme at our website, letniletna.cz. But the festival can be visited any time. The tickets are only for the chapiteaux (circle tents), but the festival area is free to enter. There is a huge picnic area for families, and there is an accompanying programme for families and kids. So it is possible to visit any time.”

Max & Maurice|Photo: Letní Letná

I know that you are the executive director and maybe you shouldn't have favourites. But are there any particular acts that you personally are looking forward to?

“Yes, you say correctly that I shouldn't have one. But of course, I always have my favourites. There are the headliners, the big companies that the audience usually look for. But I prefer the small ones, because they have a special intimacy. Usually the details are for me something more than the bigger acts.”

Bêtes de foire|Photo: Letní Letná

This is a really great platform for big acts that are already well-established. But is this also a good venue for new acts and performers to come and cut their teeth?

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Prague’s Letní Letná contemporary circus festival is back with breathtaking performances!

“Of course, for the main programme, we have to welcome companies who are the best in the world. But also, we have a festival of contemporary Czech circus. We actually specialise in supporting the invention of this genre, of this discipline among young people, the ones who are just at the beginning of their career. They are really trying to explore their acts and performances. They are quite welcome, because the quality of the Czech artists is amazing.”