Kutná Hora Performing Arts Festival

Festival Foundation

The Kutná Hora Performing Arts Festival (DFKH) was founded in 2015 by the association Kulturní Invaze, specifically by the current manager of the Theatre X10 Kryštof Koláček and the enfant terrible of the Czech theatre, critic and journalist Vojtěch Varyš. The main goal of the festival was to introduce independent theatre to the historical sites of Kutná Hora. The idea was realized in various parts of the town and the festival consequently breathed new life into the Gothic and Baroque buildings. In the first years of its existence, the festival took place inside and outside the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region, on the Palackého Square, in the Synagogue and also in the ancient Brewery in Sedlec, a peripheral part of the town where the most iconic buildings of the town can be found: the Ossuary and the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist. From the beginning, the Theatre X10 was a permanent guest of the festival and it also provided production and technical support.

Theatre X10 as a Producer

After the sudden death of Vojtěch Varyš, the festival found itself in a critical position and had to find a way forward. At the same time, the Theatre X10 was forced to move out of Strašnice to the centre of Prague and consequently had to end the festival strašNICE. Since the Theatre X10 has always been fond of revitalising atypical spaces and public space by performing arts, the management naturally decided to take over the whole organization of the festival. Therefore, since 2018, the Kutná Hora Performing Arts Festival is produced and organized by the Theatre X10. In 2019, the structure of the festival significantly changed: a new international dimension was added, the ancient Sedlec Brewery became the centre of the festival, and the theatre managed to establish cooperation with the local community.

Archive

Focus of the Festival

DFKH focuses on presenting independent art at the international level and emphasises contemporary topics. The main programme consists of new productions by the Czech independent theatre scene both from Prague and other regions, it also presents the European scene. Besides Slovakia, which is a permanent guest of the festival, the audience has a chance to see productions from the Central or East Europe every year. The festival traditionally organizes a free programme for families with small children in the centre of the town (at Palackého Square); the evening programme consisting of puppet or object theatre for the adults is one of the highlights of the festival. Every year, the incoming artistic generation prepares a new production exclusively for the festival. The programme of the festival is accompanied by concerts, installations and other activities.

Platform of Networking

The festival also functions as a platform for networking, focusing on the development of collaboration between individual artists and the development and support of the independent sector itself. Thanks to its networking sessions, the festival initiates the possibilities of collaboration at both the Czech and international level. By organizing encounters with the public, the festival raises the public awareness of the non-profit sector; every year, there are thematic debates open for the public as well.