National Marionette Theatre

In the Prague theatre where UNIMA was founded in 1929, the National Marionette Theatre transformed Mozart’s Don Giovanni into a marionette classic.

The National Marionette Theatre began performing at the historic Říše loutek stage in Prague’s Old Town in 1991. Its signature adaptation of Mozart’s opera connects traditional Czech puppetry with a venue that holds a special place in the international history of the art form.

Don Giovanni since 1991

The marionette production of Don Giovanni premiered on 7 June 1991 during the Mozart anniversary year. The adaptation was created by Daniel Dvořák and Jiří Nekvasil, directed by Karel Brožek, with stage design by Zdeněk Bauer and Daniel Dvořák and puppets by Anna Cigánová.

The production went on to become the company’s defining and record-running work, establishing an enduring Prague theatrical tradition without losing the character of traditional marionette theatre.

The theatre where UNIMA began

The historic Říše loutek company was founded in 1920 by sculptor Vojtěch Sucharda and painter Anna Suchardová-Brichová. In 1928, it moved to a purpose-built stage in Prague’s new Municipal Library.

On 20 May 1929, puppeteers from several countries gathered in this theatre and founded UNIMA, the international puppetry organization. The event gives the venue an exceptional place in world theatre history.