New head of Slovak National Theatre refuses LGBT+ performance from Prague
The new director of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), Zuzana Ťapáková, has canceled the performance Moonstone by Prague's Studio of Heroes, which was scheduled to be part of the Drama Queer festival. The festival's organizer called the decision discriminatory and accused her of censorship. Studio of Heroes announced on Facebook that they plan to address the situation with a talk at the end of October.
Drama Queer is a theatre festival focused on LGBT+ issues, running from 17 to 28 October. This year's program was set to include Moonstone, a Czech adaptation of Sjón's novel. The play portrays the inner world of a lonely anti-hero in post-WWI Reykjavik, exploring themes of sexual orientation, family absence, and personal freedom.
According to Denník N, everything was agreed except for the Slovak National Theatre's signature on the contract. However, director Zuzana Ťapáková, appointed by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová in August, did not sign the agreement, citing the theatre's need for longer-term planning. She emphasized that this is not a cancellation and expressed openness to future collaboration.
"She says she only had a contract for two weeks, which is not true. It is also nonsense in that she herself has been in charge of the theatre for just over a month. Previously, the SND was without a statutory representative for three weeks, so I don't know how she wanted to know about the hosting six months in advance," festival director Róbert Pakan responded to Sme, who said that organisational preparations with the drama company of the Slovak National Theatre began in March this year.
"We have never encountered such a grossly discriminatory intervention at the SND. On the contrary, we have always had a welcoming, accepting environment and the utmost professional approach at all levels," Pakan said. "It has created an aftertaste of censorship, discrimination and international shame," the festival director added.
Pakan believes that Ťapáková has an issue with the festival's LGBT+ focus.
"Two years after the murders of two young queer people, I expected at least a basic level of sensitivity," the festival director said, referring to the homophobic killings at Bratislava's Tepláreň bar.
"Nothing like this has ever happened to us. I'm sure the obstacle is homosexuality, which seems crazy to me. Our production is subtle, it doesn't push sexuality; it's more like magical realism, a story about loneliness and isolation," said Jan Horák, director of Studio of Heroes.
The festival organizer added that the production Moonstone is spatially demanding, and finding another suitable venue on short notice is impossible.
Slovak Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, who took office after Prime Minister Robert Fico's government came to power last year, has dismissed several cultural leaders. In August, she removed SND director Matej Drlička, citing managerial failures — a decision criticized by artists and the opposition. Šimkovičová, a promoter of traditional culture, has also expressed opposition to LGBT+ issues, stating that Slovak culture should remain Slovak.
