If the Italians have La Scala, the British the West End and the Russians the Bolshoi - the Czechs boast what has become one of their cultural symbols: the black theater "Image", which has survived for 33 years.
The theater troupe was founded by two artists, Alexander Chihar and Eva Astrova, as an independent theater based on a combination of black theater, dance, modern jazz and contemporary music.
It became within a few months a successful project with a unique genre, where the main actors are darkness and light.
Their shows combine different fields - acrobatics, dance, pantomime, music and others - which together create the unique experience.
Next month they return to Israel, for a concert tour with the show for the whole family "The Best of IMAGE", which combines the iconic pieces from over the years with new material.
"We are preparing something special for you."
From the Black Theater, photo: Mark Zihar
For Alex and Ava, the artistic directors, it is not just a job, but a life's work to which they are totally recruited.
"My wife and I met 50 years ago, and we founded the Black Theater more than 30 years ago," says Alex in an interview from Prague.
"Eva, who is originally a dancer, is responsible for the artistic side, and I am for the management."
In the years without screens, when mobile phones were just a fantasy, the art of black theater was groundbreaking. You brought something to the stage that has not been done yet.
"This idea came up already in the early 1960s, by another creator in Prague. But in the 1980s, when I studied music at the conservatory and met Eva, we decided that we wanted to find something new for us in which we would combine our two abilities - music and dance."
According to Ava, "It mainly gave me the opportunity to combine the comedy in a show without words. Our dancers are professional dancers who are also very good at gymnastics. A team of 17 people will come to the show in Israel, which will include dancers, actors, technicians on stage, amazing lighting. We are preparing something special To the Israeli audience, which we love very much. We want to give them the best we have."
With all the technological developments, what keeps you relevant even in 2023?
Alex: "Our big advantage is that it is a show without words. If there are productions of Broadway musicals in Prague, which have the potential of 10 million viewers - we have the potential of 8 billion. When the situation in the world is normal, and people are not afraid to travel and travel, Prague is a very A tourist that people from all over the world come to. I think that's the secret."
The Black Theater will come to Israel for a tour of performances that will open on March 17 and will reach all over the country: Tel Aviv, Haifa, Or Akiva, Karmiel, Be'er Sheva, Netanya and more.
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