ALDENDTE THEATRE

ALDENTE Theatre was originally established as a "theatre-laboratory" for students of DAMU, JAMU, HAMU and VŠMU, focusing on site-specific and poetic theatre. In 2014, the theatre decided to change its artistic profile and orientation from "site-specific" to "actor-specific" - i.e. theatre with actors with difference, specifically with Down syndrome. In 2019, the theatre started a close cooperation with the Theatre Faculty of JAMU, which received a grant for the development of this type of theatre. The acting ensemble has stabilized as a result, and the actors have undergone some acting development and training that they would not have otherwise received due to their disabilities.

Currently the company consists of 10 actors, mainly with Down syndrome, aged 16-25, and several permanent collaborators from among theatre professionals. Most of the actors with Down syndrome have about 70 performances to their credit; some of them have been involved in film (e.g. Hana Bartoňová - Knots and Oranges (CT 2019, directed by Ivan Pokorný))

Aldente Theatre is striving to create a fully professional stage with actors with Down syndrome, in which it holds the first position in the Czech Republic. It is inspired by similar theatres abroad - research stays in theatres in Sweden, Germany, England or Poland. A documentary by Czech Television called We are not down! (Lea Surovcová, 2020), awarded the VVOZP prize for journalistic achievement in the television category (1st place) and nominated for the 2020 Journalism Award.

Nová síť provides the theatre with year-round coaching and consulting focused on branding, media image, audience relations and finance. In addition, Nová síť assists in arranging tours to regions of the Czech Republic.

The applied project:

Antigona
The well-known classical ancient tragedy offers an ethical problem: is it good to obey the rules, even if the rules are wrong?

Two brothers die fighting each other. The ruler Kreon orders one of them to be buried with all honours, but forbids the burial of the other. The brothers have two sisters: Ismene decides to obey the orders, while Antigone defies them and buries her other brother despite the ban. Creon condemns her to death. Antigone walks to her death and Creon realizes that his command was against the will of the gods. His epiphany, however, comes too late: Antigone has taken her own life, and other people will die with her.

The specific theatrical poetics are based on actors with otherness (especially with Down syndrome) and their artistic dialogue with actors who are not "disadvantaged". The interpretation is an intersection of the life experiences and personal perspectives of each of them. Through this dialogue they try to create something that will transcend each of us: a catharsis perhaps?

There are three Antigones. Two Creons. A thousand opinions on catharsis.
The tragedy by Sophocles in 60 minutes.

Supported by: Vladimír Juda (který nám bezplatně poskytl práva k překladu F. Stiebitze); Údaj o vzniku inscenace za podpory Technologické agentury ČR v rámci programu Éta jako projekt Divadelní fakulty JAMU.