New circus is a dramatic genre on the border between theater art and circus. It originated in France in the 1970s and gradually spread throughout Europe. The best-known representative of this genre is probably the famous Cirque du Soleil, with its permanent headquarters in Montreal, Canada, which goes regularly with its spectacular show all over the world. But since 2009, the new circus has experienced a significant "boom" in the Czech Republic as well, mainly thanks to the ensemble Cirk La Putyka, led by its artistic director Rostislav Novák, Jr.
The original intention, why this ensemble was put together, was to make one production under the name La Putyka. However, its reception by the Czech public was so positive that the Novákovec brothers decided to found the theater company Cirk La Putyka, which has been operating successfully for thirteen years. Today, the ensemble consists of actors, musicians, acrobats, dancers, but also athletes. Their latest effort called BOOM vol. 2, which can be seen in the Jatka78 theater in the Holešovice Market, was created in cooperation with students of the Kyiv Academy of Theater and Circus Arts. The performance had its world premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival international show, where it was a huge success with both the professional public and the enthusiastic audience. Cooperation with Ukrainian students began in the very first days of the war conflict, when the principal of the Circus La Putyka approached the vice-rector of the Kyiv school, Nina Araya, and provided young colleagues in the Jatka78 theater with asylum and a background for creating a joint production. The theater thus acquired a deep personal dimension, because its actors talk about themselves and getting to know each other. In this way, the world of social networks, which is such a typical symbol of addiction for the youngest generation, opens up to the audience. But the essential difference is that the content of the reports of the Kyiv artists suddenly brings us closer to the cruelty of war in a live broadcast. Young people tell with their own eyes when and where unexpected war events caught them. An important aspect of the whole performance is that the ensemble can talk about serious things with a humorous perspective and without unnecessary pathos. A refreshing burst of youthful energy and imaginative creativity emanated from the ensemble the entire time. Production BOOM Vol. 2 but it is not only about technological isolation or war. In the second part, individual characters tell their own ideas about life in a free world, in which they regularly meet on stage and intermingle with each other. To do this, they use all modern means of circus art in an attractive way, such as pair acrobatics, scarves, circles, juggling, cyr wheel, Chinese pole, but also clown, break dance, street dance or contemporary dance. All of this is further enhanced by the dramatic original music of Igor Ochepovský and Kryštof Záveský, scenography by Pavla Kamanová and the perfect light show by Karlos Šimek. A surprising moment is when the actors paradoxically invite the audience to turn on their mobile phones in the middle of the performance, because part of the performance is also taking place on Instagram. But the end is also impressive, when the artists give hugs, their works of art to randomly selected spectators or just come to sit in the auditorium for a talk. The family atmosphere of the theater is further illustrated by the fact that the principal greets the audience at the entrance before the performance, and after the performance all the performers come to say goodbye to them personally. However, even the family nature of the theater in no way diminishes the fact that Prague has a world phenomenon in the ensemble Cirk La Putyka and in their new performance BOOM vol. 2 a powerful and moving show that the audience absorbs with their mouths open from beginning to end.
Text and photo: Vladimír Dubeň