Divadlo Husa na provázku

Divadlo Husa na provázku (Goose on a String Theatre) is one of Brno's most distinctive stages, celebrated for a bold, experimental repertoire that traces back to the late 1960s. The company was founded in autumn 1967 by a mixed group of professional theatre artists, art school students, and young creators from other professions who wanted to build a stage free from the rigid conventions of state-run theatres of the era. The ensemble gave its first performance in March 1968 in the Procházka Hall of the Brno House of Arts (Dům umění města Brna), the venue where the group was based in its earliest years.

Where does the unusual name come from?

The theatre's name carries a slice of Czechoslovak political history. After Gustáv Husák rose to power in 1969, the company was forced to drop the word "husa" (goose) from its official name, because overnight all of the theatre's posters had been altered to read "Husák na provázku" — a mocking play on the new leader's surname. The episode became one of the enduring symbols of the tense relationship between experimental culture and the communist authorities in Czechoslovakia.

Who shaped its golden era in the 1970s and 1980s?

The theatre's most celebrated period came in the 1970s and 1980s, driven by directors such as Peter Scherhaufer, Eva Tálská, and Zdeněk Pospíšil, alongside actors including Bolek Polívka, Jiří Pecha, and Pavel Zatloukal. This creative team defined the physical, often grotesque performance style that remains associated with the "Husa na provázku" name to this day.

How did the theatre's organization change over time?

In 1992, Divadlo Husa na provázku and HaDivadlo separated from the Brno Land Theatre (Zemské divadlo) and, from January 1st of that year, began operating legally as the Centre for Experimental Theatre (Centrum experimentálního divadla, CED), a new cultural institution established by the City of Brno. Since 1992 the theatre has been based in the House of the Lords of Fanal (Dům pánů z Fanalu) on Zelný trh (Vegetable Market Square), right in the historic centre of Brno, where it remains today. March 1998 marked exactly thirty years since the company's first performance, and in May 1999 Peter Scherhaufer, one of its founders and its "spiritual leader," passed away.

What is on stage today?

The theatre is currently led by Vladimír Morávek, one of the most significant contemporary Czech artistic directors. Performances take place both in the main hall (provázek.sál) and in a smaller cellar space (provázek.sklep). Recent titles in the repertoire have included "Darwin & co.," "Don Quijote," "Držím ti miesto," "Dynastie (Lehman Brothers)," "Everybody Cries," "Gadžové jdou do nebe," and "Mein Švejk," reflecting a mix of classics, literary adaptations, and contemporary themes.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the theatre located? Divadlo Husa na provázku is housed in the House of the Lords of Fanal on Zelný trh, in the centre of Brno.

Why is it called "Goose on a String"? The original name referenced the word "husa" (goose), which had to be dropped from the official title after 1969 for political reasons connected to leader Gustáv Husák's surname.

When was the theatre founded? The company was formed in autumn 1967 and gave its first performance in March 1968.

Who runs the theatre today? Its artistic director is Vladimír Morávek.