Circus is an art that has mesmerized us and took us to the Cesty (Roads) project. We are fascinated by this hard labour as well as by the specific poetry of the circus arena. Therefore, we want to share with you the unique stories it tells by our company and also by the former largest European circus of the principal Karel Kludsky one more time in 2023.
"The original launch of the Cesty project was postponed several times due to the pandemic. After a successful premiere in September 2021 at Azyl78, we performed Cesty again in spring of 2022. The second block was affected by the war in Ukraine, and students of the Kyiv circus school joined us on our path. It was so energizing that we decided to launch the project one more time. For viewers who haven't seen Cesty yet, and for those who have grown to love them as much as we have." - Rostislav Novák jr.
For us, Cesty has become a matter of the heart in which we have invested an incredible amount of energy. Through this we are paying tribute to the uniqueness of circus art, which is full of authenticity, freedom, risk, poetry, laughter, tears, sweat, pain, and teamwork. An art full of respect and trust, which has been here with us for several centuries.
You can look forward to almost 60 acrobats, actors, dancers, and musicians, who create the Cirk La Putyka, from various parts of the world and across generations. You will see demanding and breathtaking shows, clown performances as well as group choreographies.
The show comprises four chapters. The first one covers the history of the traditional circus art, which is viewed through the Kludsky family. With love and fascination by the craft we draw inspiration from Karel Kludsky, the former principal of Circus Kludsky, with a circus tent featuring four arenas for ten thousand people, his passion for elephants, the greatest circus shows and real stories. We let ourselves get carried away by the poetry of circus art and the magic of the circus arena.
The second chapter is about the company of Cirk La Putyka, about our personal stories, our experiences, about the everyday operation of our theatre. You will see the founding members of Cirk La Putyka, members of the youngest budding generation, as well as the young Ukrainian students with whom we are now sharing our theatre and training facilities, and who have, for the time, become part of our company. You will see our joint search for the ways to the hearts of the audience, which has been taking place for almost 15 years.
The third chapter reflects on our creative work during the pandemics under the #kulturunezastavis initiative and our desire to keep carrying on despite all the odds and adverse circumstances. We have abandoned theatres and looked for new ways of reaching our audience. What were all the places where we have encountered circus, dance, or theatre? What were all the places where we managed to keep culture alive?
The fourth chapter is a celebration of the present moment and togetherness. A celebration that after a year we are all here again. Come celebrate with us and say goodbye to Cesty!
Audiovisual material may be procured from the performance for promotional and archival purposes at Cirk La Putyka.
WARNING: After the start of the performance, it is no longer possible to enter the tent.
