The Mezi ploty festival made a grand return last year. This is evidenced by the fact that this original cultural project and its humanistic values were supported by the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, who not only granted it his patronage but also personally visited and even participated in the program.
This year, the President has again taken patronage over the festival. And once again, he will come to the festival – this time with another exceptionally significant guest – the former President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Čaputová.
The patron of the Mezi ploty festival remains director Václav Marhoul. And the new patron is actress Jitka Čvančarová.
This year, the festival has definitely not lost its momentum. Once again, it will be one of the largest and most diverse cultural events in the capital, bringing a multi-genre feast of music, theater, and dance.
What to expect from the music lineup?
On the main stage, which will be set up in front of the hospital church, in addition to the already mentioned musical personalities, popular singer and actress Berenika Kohoutová and the humorous Děda Mláděk Illegal Band will also perform. From the Independent music scene, we can mention Duende, who navigate the waters of jazz, African music, and flamenco, the swing-tramp band Nové struny, hard rock band Red Baron Band, excellent musicians from Vanua2, and the award-winning electropop band Midi Lidi. There will also be a motivational group, Předkapela Teambuilding Lukáše Pavláska, which will humorously advise visitors on how to live.
For humor, head to Bohnice
Humor and perspective are, as we know, one of the characteristic features of the Bohnice festival. So this year, the festival park will again host the Theater of Laughter stage with cabaret and stand-up comedy. For example, Vosto5, Underground Comedy, or the group Na stojáka will come with such masters of irreverent entertainment as Ester Kočičková, Karel Hynek, and Petr Vydra.
This year's edition: the ninetieth birthday of Václav Havel
This year's Mezi ploty festival will join the celebrations of the posthumous ninetieth birthday of the first Czech president. As a result, visitors will be able to enjoy the acclaimed performance Antiwords, inspired by Havel's play Audience, presented by Spitfire Company, one of the best Czech physical and experimental theater ensembles. There will also be Havel-themed performances from the Vršovice Theater MANA and the Theater on the Second Turn.
“Václav Havel has always been a great inspiration to me personally, and I am pleased that we can celebrate his birthday at the festival in the best possible way – with a presentation of his own creativity,” says Robert Kozler, the director and founder of the Mezi ploty festival.
And what about the rest of the theater program?
However, the Havel program does not exhaust the theatrical dramaturgy. At the stone Theater behind the fence, you will also see the amateur “doctor” group Kardio Theatre, which in its cabaret decided to explore whether mental illnesses are sexually transmitted. The outdoor theater stage will feature the extraordinary artist Antonie Svobodová, who perceives dance as a conversation of souls, Theater Disk, Damůza with a performance for children and their adults, and the Disman Radio Children's Ensemble.
Don't leave the kids with grandma
Yes, the festival does not forget about children and families. In addition to drama and puppet theater, it has also prepared a Family Music Stage, where musicians who can appeal to both younger and older children, as well as their parents and grandparents, will perform: Pam Rabbit, Adam Mišík, Kašpárek v rohlíku, Sto zvířat, and Kateřina Marie Tichá…
And there will also be fun games and competitions for children – often at the booths of non-profit organizations that will participate in large numbers at the festival.
That's not all
Mezi ploty supports mental well-being and everything that can connect us with other people. Therefore, it will offer a relaxation zone with yoga, breathing exercises, gong baths, African dances, and a walk on hot coals. Experts will be present at the event to inform you about how to deal with mental challenges and where to seek help if you or your loved ones find yourselves in crisis. For the same reason, you will find among the performers those who have not had as much luck in life as most others. And for the same reason, Václav Marhoul will again talk in his cycle Tuláci po hvězdách with personalities who have achieved something and thus have something to say.
So if you have time on the last weekend of May, definitely don’t stay at home. Your destination should be Bohnice.
