The State Theatre in Košice will commemorate 70th anniversary of judicial murder of the Czech lawyer and politician, which became a symbol of the biggest one of the spurious political processes in 1950s in the Communist Czechoslovakia, with special performance of modern dance theater Milada Horáková under auspices of President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová on Saturday, June 27 at 19:00.
Ten death sentences, almost 50 life sentences and other punishments lasting more than 7800 years were brought by monster-proceedings, with which the Communist regime got rid of people with different opinions. The most famous victim was Milada Horáková, who was hung in the yard of a famous prison in Prague’s Pankrác on June 27, 1950 by order of Communist President Klement Gottwald despite many petitions for a pardon and urges of world figures such as Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill or cardinal Bernard Griffin.
Multigenre dance theater Milada Horáková by director and choreographer Ondrej Šoth was premiered in the State Theater in Košice in half of February 2020. It was the next to last production that was added to the theater’s repertoire before the corona virus pandemic outbreak. On the day of the sad June anniversary, the State Theater in Košice will dedicate this performance with deep respect to Mrs. Jana Kánska, daughter of Milada Horáková, who only got the letter, written for then sixteen-year-old daughter, after unbelievable forty years.
Director and choreographer Ondrej Šoth had been thinking about producing a story of Milada Horáková from seventy years ago for a long time. “Ever since I have found out about her fate, I feel that it is one of the greatest dramatic stories of the 20th century. Around five years ago, I have started to seriously consider its production. In the end, I got to the Anne Frank’s Diary sooner. But when asked what topic I would like to deal with in my “jubilee” season, my answer was clear.” Ondrej Šoth said before February’s premiere.
Milada Horáková is another Šoth’s production in which the dance theater portrays seemingly “non-dancing” topics. “I think that there is only one theater. And I like being inspired by talented people. Connection of acting and dancing energy fascinated me in my early days already. Theater - as Shakespeare said - is mirrors the reality. I live here and now and see that these topics are important today. They talk about things that resonate in us.” Šoth explains and says that there is a fascinating and dramatic strong fate in stories of Charlie Chaplin, Anne Frank and also Milada Horáková. “There is a huge potential for the theater in it. However, at the same time, it can be a trap that fundamental milestones of these stories are given and known. And with that goes a great responsibility - at least in my case. For me, it is essential that the audience understand the context and acts of the characters. Nowadays, it is so important to talk about people who valued the fundamental values. Who lived their whole life by them and who were willing to die for their beliefs.” Šoth adds.
During Saturday’s performance, actress Alena Ďuránová, member of drama in the State Theater in Košice, will portray the main character.
By introducing the production Milada Horáková, the state Theater in Košice will end its jubilee 75th season. The new season will start on September 3, 2020 with a dance production Anne Frank’s Diary, followed by the dramatic cabaret At the Hitler’s: Stories from the kitchen on Tuesday, September 8, and a day later, it will present an introduction of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio. These three performances are dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Tickets for the new theater season are already on sale.
