ANTIWORDS – Press Release

In Partnership with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Mutual Inspirations Festival 2013

- Vaclav Havel

Ambassador Theater presents

International Artist Series

Spitfire Company (Cz) and Sivan Eldar

in

ANTIWORDS

Based on Václav Havel’s Audience and its legendary film adaptation

Featuring: Miřenka Čechová and Jindřiška Křivánková

Saturday, September 21, 2013 8:00PM

Sunday, September 22, 2013 2:00PM

At Mead Theater Lab at FLASHPOINT, 916 G Street, NW, Washington DC 20001

The Ambassador Theater presents the Spitfire Company (Cz) and Sivan Eldar in Antiwords, inspired by Václav  Havel’s celebrated one-act play Audience and performed by prominent Czech  physical theater actresses MiÅ™enka ÄŒechová, whose show S/he is Nancy Joe was  named the “Best of 2012 in Contemporary Dance” by the Washington Post, and  JindÅ™iÅ¡ka KÅ™ivánková in the Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint. This original  work by MiÅ™enka ÄŒechová explores the issue of individual integrity, morality and  responsibility, employing a collage of visual imagery, poetry, voice, and music to  create an impression.

Antiwords gives us an insight into the artist’s process of creation as a poet, as a  dissident playwright, as an alienated man writing letters to his wife, as well as a person for whom responsibility, truth and honesty were as indispensable as “a sense of humor, an ability to see things in their ridiculous and absurd dimensions”. Based on a play ‘Audience’ and its film adaptation, Antiwords will surprise and thrill you with its unique ways of expression and original music composed specifically for the performance. Noise of writing and speech combined with silence; music, dance, absurd humor; use of collage and prollage; huge heads in place of actors’ faces are skillfully used on stage to bring Havel’s restless and inquisitive persona, his talent, wisdom, absurd humor and integrity, to life, for us to savor and reflect.
Under communism, Havel’s plays were banned in theaters; therefore, his work was performed in the living rooms, barns, pubs, and other unexpected places, which was often called “apartment theater.” In the intimate space of Flashpoint Gallery, enjoy this very special “apartment style” theater of Antiwords.

The performances will be complemented by a special selection of photographs by Oldřich Škácha, a close friend and photographer of Václav Havel. The photographs give an inside look into Havel’s dissident life.        

At the opening show on September 21, savor a complimentary Pilsner Urquell, a favorite beer of Václav Havel, who spent some time working in a brewery during his dissident years, which served as inspiration for his own play “Audience.”

Location: Flashpoint Gallery, Mead Theatre Lab , 916 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Tickets: www.aticc.org/home/box-office | Admission is $20-$35

For Press Tickets, please e-mail at ambassadortheater@aticc.org

The performances are part of HAVEL’S TRILOGY, connected to the “Vaněk plays,” as part of the Mutual Inspirations  Festival 2013 – Václav Havel, celebrating the life and legacy of the former president, playwright, and human rights  advocate. For more information about the festival, please visit: www.mutualinspirations.org.