Theatre Drak (www.divalo.cz/drak) The creators of DRAK Theatre have tried to check up from the play to the play, again and again, in different time the most effective communication with a spectator. Listening to each other, searching questions and answers with awareness that nothing is definitive and final, dialogue of people, dialogue of the creators, dialogue of the puppeteers and marionettes, dialogue of sound and light, dialogue of the spoon and fork...could this listening to each other be called a puppet or alternative or figural or experimental theatre?

The dragon from the fairy tales has usually many heads on one body. A number of young graduates from the Academy of Dramatic Arts entered DRAK recently and side by side with Petr Matásek works Marek Zákostelecký, side by side with Josef Krofta produces Jakub Krofta, a main part of the actors ensemble has changed and in addition the DRAK Theatre has spread about International Institute of Figural Theatre and about new theatre space - Amatka studio. May be that an action in unison of all the realizers, mutual inspiration and listening to each other will happen even in future. May be that this revived DRAK will have one body, many heads a great hunger and dainty appetite.
DRAK Theatre gives its performances for the widest age category. For the children from kindergarten to grandfathers and grandmothers. Recently the most favourite plays are performances for the whole families - when both the children and parents are the spectators. DRAK Theatre plays 270 .- 300 performances a year, one third from this number is played directly in Hradec Králové and the remaining performances are given in the surrounding of our town in bigger towns of the Czech Republic. DRAK plays in abroad twice a year at least - on the invitation of Festival Committees or on commercial tours. DRAK appeared as a guest in USA (New York, Washington), Japan (Osaka), Australia (Adelaide), Russia (Moscow), Canada (Montreal) and nearly in all European states, most often in France.

International Institute of Figural Theatre

In all countries where is duly appreciated the importance of puppet theatre, its effect on children, its modern artistic potential comparable with close branches and overtopping other types of dramatic art more and more frequently, in all these places the institutes were established. They look after this re-vamped theatre branch and take care about its development /In Europe, e.g., Charleville-Mezieres, Bochum, Frankfurt upon M., Barcelona, Ravena, Ljublan, London, Liege, Stockohlm). In other parts of the world the development is even more stormy. The Czech Republic, still considered as a puppet Great had not any institute. With understanding of Municipal Council of Hradec Králové for its establishing, the institute was founded as a filial organization of DRAK Theatre on 14 th December 1992.
DRAK Theatre as a professional artistic establishment engaged in the creation for children and the youth exist in Hradec Králové for more than thirty years. It is nearly unbelievable that it had not suffered from any serious scar on its reputation. To secure the highest artistic level of this establishment under limited conditions even in future, we have founded the International Institute of Figural Theatre attached to DRAK Theatre.
Its activity is in close connection with the function of the Theatre, but from artistic point it is independent on limiting aspect, which influence and will be influencing, without any doubt, the artistic creation of routine theatre production. Activity which enables DRAK Theatre to meet artists or school from abroad - and on the contrary - theatres, artists and school from abroad to meet DRAK Theatre and the Dramatic Faculty of Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Amatka studio

On the 13 th February 1997 AMATKA Studio was festively opened with gala performance of Jakub Krofta play Valerie and the World of Wonders in the house of International Institute of Figural Theatre. A new theatre auditorium with the capacity of approximately 50 spectators appeared in the place of the former rehearsal room. The set designer of DRAK Theatre Marek Zákostelecký proposed the interior design of the studio.
Variable stage and auditorium offer more possibilities for an experiment with non-traditional theatre space, it incites realisation of the plays of presumably chamber character, which demand close contact with a spectator and are not suitable for the classical stage of DRAK Theatre. AMATKA Studio provides the ground for a number of professional and amateur ensembles as the guests, the students of the International Institute of Figural Theatre could here regularly show the results of their creative workshops and short-term affiliation. The stage managers of DRAK Theatre prepare the play Small Claus - Big Claus and Old Scottish Ballads for the season of this year in the studio. Further the performance of visiting producer Alex Byrne, graduate of London Central School od Speach and Drama is planned and two short plays of the students of Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Example of repertoire:

About the Bird that Suckled Milk - The African Tale.
Our new tale is a little different from what we used to see. That is because it comes of Africa - the land of beautiful and wild nature full of exotic creatures that we know only from a zoo. Africa is also the cradle of Africans that, similarly to us, relate their own tales and myths.
Our straightforward tale accompanied by rythmical rhymes and drumming doesn't lack for the hero with his failings that leads him into danger. Just a sound story!