The latest show on earth

Prague's premier avant-garde circus takes place every August in a hidden corner of Letná Park, and this year is no exception. For two weeks, Letná is transformed into an oasis of intensely festive circus-theater fun with a festival program that aims to bring together Czech and international "new circus" performers specializing in nonverbal, physical theater. Each performance features spectacular acrobatics and movement with both a lyrical and emotional punch. In classic fashion, the main events are held under a big-top circus tent.

Letní Letná is now in its seventh year and continues to bring world-class new circus acts to Prague along with the best of experimental Czech circus theater. This year's lineup features an unprecedented number of avant-garde (and more traditional) children's theater groups with shows beginning at noon and running till late in the evening.

The festival's headliners this year are Cie Cahin Cahan, an international group based in France, Atelier Lefeuvre & André, a French duo returning from last year, and one of the best local new circus acts led by Rostislav Novák and the theater group SKUTR.

The new circus movement began in France in the 1970s and continues to be centered in Europe. New circus performances combine breathtaking acrobatics, dark and magical atmospheres, and usually exquisite live or recorded music.

Cie Cahin Cahan is a self-described "mongrel circus," a cross-breed of circus, dance and experimental theater with members from diverse areas of expertise and backgrounds including France, Germany, England and the United States. The group is led by an American, Daniel Gulko, who performed a piece inspired by Melville's Moby Dick at Letní Letná in 2006. Gulko also claims to have been inspired by the Czech mime performer Ctibor Turba, who worked with the famous Cirque du Soleil in the 1990s.

This year, Gulko and company will be performing REV, as in "revolution," a word that does not allow for advancement in straight lines but rather aspires to rotations around a center of gravity. As the group explains it, "To try to pin down society through dreams is a ludicrous and political act, a quest for revolution." Exploring the relationship between hope, suffering and the quest to live a full life, REV features a clown, four circus artists and three singers. 

Another French headliner is Atelier Lefeuvre & André, performing Bricolage Erotique. Bricolage, which means "do it yourself," usually refers to amateur handicrafts created with ingenuity. Everyone knows what "erotique" means. This show explores bodies and sensuality through "lascivious stripteases, tantalizing lace [and] licentious looks," according to the Swiss newspaper Le Courrier.

The main local attraction at this year's festival brings together Novák and the highly acclaimed directorial duo SKUTR for their new circus project La Putyka, featuring 13 performers. The piece draws the audience into the atmosphere of a traditional Czech pub before unleashing a fantasy world of acrobatics, dance, athletic feats, puppets and music.

The manager of the troupe, Vítek Novák, told The Prague Post that La Putyka is German slang for "hospoda," or Czech pub. To truly understand the show, it is best to have experienced a real Czech pub, according to Novák.

"Czech pubs are very special, and different from British pubs or any others. They don't have to be filthy, but they are run-down and could use a good washing," he said.

To create the full effect, there is "cigarette" smoke (using smoke effects), beer on tap, fat beer-drinkers and racy language. Novák assures that while some words may not be appropriate for young children, overall the show is fine for adolescents and is full of remarkable surprises for audiences of all ages.

La Putyka was performed twice last year at Letní Letná, and this year it will be performed three times. But, as Novák points out, no matter how many times you see the show, it is never quite the same.

This year's festival also has new circus workshops for adults and kids, as well as concerts featuring DJs and noted Czech bands including Laura a její tygři. As usual, Letní Letná, with its friendly café and bar open late, promises to be a highlight (and finale) of summer in Prague.

Tony Ozuna can be reached at
features@praguepost.com