Strings across cultures: La Putyka prepares spectacle for Czech National Day at EXPO 2025
As EXPO 2025 in Osaka opens this coming Sunday, the acclaimed Prague-based contemporary circus company La Putyka is putting the final touches on a unique production for the Czech National Day. Blending tradition, modern performance, and international collaboration, the show Strings will bring together the Czech Philharmonic, the Children's Choir of Czech Radio, and 150-year-old marionettes from Novák's family collection.
Czech artists are finalizing plans for their showcase event at EXPO 2025. On July 24, the Czech National Day, the contemporary circus ensemble La Putyka will present a spectacular performance that blends Czech and Japanese cultural motifs in an ambitious international collaboration.
"We're creating a project called Strings," says Rosťa Novák, founder and artistic director of La Putyka. "For me, this name connects the strings of musical instruments with the strings of marionettes. It’s about the materials, the traditions, and the vision shared by both Czech and Japanese cultures."
Novák’s fascination with Japan dates back to his student days at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU), where he studied traditional Japanese theatre forms such as bunraku and kabuki. Those influences now resurface in Strings, a production that will combine the artistry of La Putyka's circus performers, the prestige of the Czech Philharmonic, and the powerful voices of the Children's Choir of Czech Radio.
Adding a deeply personal touch to the performance, Novák plans to include marionettes from his own family collection — some of them 150 years old. "These are traditional wire puppets from the late 19th century, about a meter tall," he explains. "They were operated from a bridge, with control rods as long as two and a half meters. We’ll also include trick puppets, each with its own special surprise."
The logistics of staging such an elaborate performance at EXPO are formidable. Each participating country has just one day to take over the National Day Hall, and access to the venue is limited. "We only get into the space at midnight, and the premiere is at eleven in the morning," Novák says. "That means our artists — whether they’re violinists or acrobats — need to be ready for sound checks as early as four or five a.m."
Given these constraints, almost the entire production will be rehearsed in Prague before the team travels to Japan. Final preparations are still underway, with some technical details yet to be confirmed by the Japanese side. "We’re still waiting for answers on things like lighting, sound equipment, and whether acrobats can be suspended in the air," Novák notes.
Separate rehearsals with the Czech Philharmonic, La Putyka, and the choir are planned, culminating in a joint rehearsal in Prague just days before the team departs for Osaka.
For Novák, the show represents more than just a performance. It’s a celebration of cultural exchange and shared creativity. "What connects our two worlds — which might seem so different at first — is a respect for history, tradition, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible," he reflects.
As preparations intensify, audiences in Osaka can look forward to a performance that promises to be both deeply rooted and boldly innovative — a true showcase of Czech artistry on the global stage.
