Active Reserves

A sabre fell from the black horse
Come, my dear, hand it to me - I must march on

The world is burning. There is war. And if the sky is a mirror reflecting time, the image of burning houses still hangs over the city. I still see it before my eyes. The reflection of fire - the image of light. As light grows, so does its shadow.

An original theatrical production about people who, under the influence of sudden historical events, decided to join the active reserves of the army. The play asks about moments of decision that fundamentally change lives - about ideals, dreams, and reality in the "real" backdrop of war. Is a sense of moral responsibility an obligation? For whom is the defence of one's country a matter of conviction, and for whom is it business? And what does the "ordinary Czech person" have to say about it?

The premise stems from the current situation, where there is a sharp increase in interest in voluntary military exercises as part of strengthening the active reserves of the Czech Army. Alongside this framework, the production alternates views into the past with both realistic and fantastical elements, developing the theme of conscience and the burden of responsibility in a grotesque image of wartime chaos.

The script draws from the text Diary of a Soldier by Petra Horáková Krištofová (published in 2025 by Albatros Media a.s.) and from recordings of participants in voluntary military exercises and active reserves training.