Choo. Choo. Whistle. Woof!
It is not the first time the Naïve Theatre Liberec has performed in the USA, but it will be the first time it has taken part in the festival in Chicago. The International Puppet Theatre Festival in Chicago is the most prestigious puppet festival in North America, offering the best puppet theatre at the international level. This year will see companies from ten countries in the world. The National Theatre received a personal invitation from the festival director Blair Thomas back in 2019, yet the trip was manageable only this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, Chicago is not the final destination for Naïve Theatre’s guest performances overseas. After a month spent at home, the theatre will travel to Montreal and Mississauga, Canada, with the same show. The production Choo. Choo. Whistle. Woof! ranks among the most successful and award-winning plays at the Naïve Theatre. As it was written for kids of two years of age or older, it has only a few words, but it is full of sounds, moods, and feelings, which makes it a modern, language barrier-free performance that can be on stages all around the world. In 2019, it was staged by the creative team led by director Michaela Homolová and writer Vít Peřina, with set design by Robert Smolík and music by Filip Homola. The actors – puppeteers and musicians – are Filip Homola, Adam Kubišta, Marek Sýkora, and Antonín Týmal.
PerformCzech ProVisits
PerformCzech ProVisits are international curated missions for groups of theatre and dance professionals, aimed at establishing contacts and cooperation in the given territory. The January trip is designed for professionals in puppet theatre, who are interested in cooperation with partners from the USA. The program also features a visit to partner organizations in New York and Storrs in Connecticut.
Sources: divadlo.cz, performczech.cz
Photo: Choo. Choo. Whistle. Woof! photo: Josef Ptáček