World-renowned choreographer Akram Khan is collaborating with Cirk La Putyka on a new production. The project establishes a cultural partnership to re-establish the Czech Republic's presence in the global arts scene.
Novák told reporters that he initiated the project to reconnect Czech culture with the international world, a disconnection he traces back to the 1968 Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. “I felt the consequences of the broken continuity with the cultural world caused by the Soviet occupation,” he said, explaining his motivation to find a “Big Name” to help elevate Czech art.
Novák first approached filmmaker Tim Burton, who was unavailable due to his work on another film. His subsequent outreach to Khan was successful. Khan, whose work is known and has been featured at the Tanec Praha festival, agreed to the collaboration. Khan said that Cirk La Putyka’s ability to blur the lines between reality and imagination created a natural artistic space for his vision.
Production Details and Artistic Vision
The upcoming production, titled “Pinokio,” premiered on October 20 and 21, 2027. It will run for approximately 80 performances in Prague before embarking on an international tour, after which it will not return to Prague. The production promises an intense physical experience, integrating dance, acrobatics, theater, and new circus into a cohesive narrative language.
The production will be based on the original, darker text by Carlo Collodi, rather than idealized versions of the story. Khan emphasized the central theme of fatherhood, a topic he finds critically important.
He is a father himself and lost his father in 2022, shortly before the project’s inception. The story explores the relationship between a father and son, framed as a journey to find one’s identity and understand what is good, true, and right.
Choreographer Khan is also exploring deeper questions about raising children in a chaotic world. “I’m thinking more and more intensely about what we pass on to the next generation, how to raise our children in a world full of chaos and contradictions, and how to explain to them what is good when the world itself seems so unstable,” Khan said.
The titular role of Pinokio will be performed by Jasper Narvaez, a long-standing member of Akram Khan Company.
FAQ
When and where will “Pinokio” premiere?
The premiere of “Pinokio” is scheduled for October 20 and 21, 2027, in Prague.
Who is directing the new production?
The production is a collaboration between world-renowned choreographer Akram Khan and Rosťa Novák of Cirk La Putyka.
What is the story’s central theme?
The production is based on Carlo Collodi's original text and centers on the relationship between a father and son, exploring themes of identity, humanity, and life in a complex world.
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