This is a sponsored article on behalf of Czech Centre London.
A major celebration of Czech creativity returns this autumn — bringing film screenings, art exhibitions, bold performances, and eye-opening talks to a range of iconic London venues.
This is the 29th Made in Prague Festival. Running 31 October to 30 November, it's a month-long showcase presented by the Czech Centre London that reflects the richness and diversity of contemporary Czech culture. There are many, many fascinating events to get stuck into — read on for a few of our highlights.
Art that breathes
Forget breath-taking art — this Made in Prague Festival, breath-making art takes centre stage. Explore the cultural, social, and scientific histories of respiration at an exhibition featuring a captivating participatory sculpture by Czech artist Filomena Borecká. Breaths - Air Bladders is made using recycled hot-air balloon fabric, which inflates in response to the viewer’s presence. It's at the Czech Centre's Bouda Gallery from 31 October to 29 January. At the same time, in the neighbouring Vitrínka Gallery, you'll find more of Borecká’s work alongside pieces by four international, UK-based artists, all of which reimagine breathing as more than a biological act.
An enigmatic opera
This year, Made in Prague Festival teams up with the Royal Opera House to celebrate a thrilling work by the great Czech composer Leoš Janáček. While the Royal Opera House stages its first-ever The Makropulos Case this autumn, the Made in Prague Festival complements the production with an accompanying exhibition — running 1-30 November — in the iconic venue's Linbury Space, providing a comprehensive background to the opera's history.
You can delve into more of Janáček’s oeuvre with yet another exhibition, this time outside the Czech Embassy. Leoš Janáček and His Operas (31 October-15 January), shown at the public space outside the Czech Embassy, showcases rare archival materials and striking contemporary images, like the one pictured above.
Bright young pianists and a blue violin
Made in Prague Festival is a joy for music lovers. Highlights include a showcase of the Czech Republic’s brightest young pianists — aged just 13-18! — at the Royal Academy of Music on 8 November. While the Future Tones concert is all about the next generation of classical music, the festival's closing gala spotlights a widely celebrated virtuoso. Pavel Šporcl brings his signature blue violin to the City's Holy Sepulchre church on 30 November, for an evening of vibrant string music alongside the English Chamber Orchestra Ensemble.
An exploration of mime
Like live theatre with a bit of a twist? Acclaimed Czech mime Radim Vizváry brings his award-winning show, Sólo, to The Coronet Theatre on 24 November. Head here to journey through the full spectrum of mime, from classical to butoh to contemporary.
Thrilling new films
Film fanatics are spoilt for choice at this edition of Made in Prague Festival. On 9 November at BFI IMAX, catch the long-anticipated UK premiere of Waves — the true tale of radio journalists who risked everything to deliver independent news during the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. This gripping political drama is followed by a Q&A with its director Jiří Mádl, lead actress Tatiana Pauhofová and producer Monika Kristl.
Other cinematic highlights include the UK premiere of Zuzana Kirchnerová’s acclaimed road trip drama Caravan (at Regent Street Cinema on 15 November), and The Garden Cinema's screening of Viktor Tauš' visually striking and emotionally charged Girl America (18 November). Both are followed by Q&As featuring their respective directors.
More of a documentary buff? Check out Klára Tasovská's I'm Not Everything I Want To Be — exploring the life of Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, who captured the underground LGBTQ scene of 1980s Prague. It's at the ICA on 30 November, and Jarcovjáková herself will be joining for a Q&A after the film.
This is just a taste of what the 29th Made in Prague Festival has to offer. Browse the whole programme now — tickets to each event are sold separately, so you can pick out the bits that best tickle your fancy.
