Švanda Theatre’s North American tour to celebrate Salivarová and Škvorecký
Prague’s Švanda Theatre has embarked on a tour of the United States and Canada, which will include the English-language premiere of A Girl on a Trampoline, a play inspired by the lives of Zdena Salivarová and Josef Škvorecký, two exceptional novelists and translators who founded the exile publishing house ’68 Publishers. Ruth Fraňková spoke with Daniel Hrbek, director of Švanda Theatre, just hours ahead of Thursday’s premiere in Toronto:
What does it mean for you to premier the play in Toronto, the city where Škovercký and Salivarová lived?
"Originally, this production was meant to be a tribute to Zdena Salivarová. Sadly, she left us just a few weeks ago. Because of this, the show has become something more than just a performance.
"It is now also a celebration of her life, her work, and her remarkable spirit. Zdena was a woman of courage and creativity. Together with her husband, Josef Škvorecký, she gave us stories, ideas, and inspiration. They were both an enduring source of encouragement for us.
"I believe they will remain with us, both on our stage and in our hearts. My hope is that this evening will serve as a message of gratitude, a way to say thank you."
Apart from the English premiere of A Girl on a Trampoline, what else will be on the program of your tour?
"We will stage A Girl on A Trampoline in Toronto and in Chicago, as part of Czech Heritage Week. We will also be leading workshops with students. In Toronto, the workshop will focus on Josef Škvorecký, Zdena Salivarová, and the show A Girl on a Trampoline.
"In Chicago, the workshops will be more varied. One will be about theatre and the use of AI tools in contemporary performance, connected to our play AI When Robots Run. Another workshop will focus on writing a play, as part of our program dedicated to Karel Čapek and his play R.U.R., since there will be a premiere of R.U.R. in Los Angeles next week and also in new York in the end of September."
What does this tour mean for the Švanda Theatre? What do you think it takes for Czech theatre to succeed internationally?
"We have been coming to the United States since 2014, so this is already about our tenth tour here. Over time, we have built a network of contacts and I think that by now, some of the theatre makers and part of the audience in the United States recognize our work. We have performed in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, and many other cities. So this tour continues that introduction of our theatre abroad.
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"At the same time, this occasion is special. It is not only about presenting Czech theatre but also about Josef Škvorecký and Zdena Salivarová. It carries a mission of sharing Czech literature and cultural heritage with the audience here. Through this, I believe people will gain a deeper understanding of Czech theatre and literature.
"Another important part of our mission is to connect theatre makers from the United States, and Canada with Prague. As part of the project, we have invited some theatre makers and playwrights to Prague, where they will read from their plays, while new Czech plays, that are still being written, will be presented here.”
