Studio SEN - Bal@da

This theatrical production by Studio SEN draws loose inspiration from the story of Jaromír Balda, the first Czech terrorist, who at seventy felled trees on railway tracks out of fear of "invasions from the east". His act became a memento of how easily panic and conspiracy theories can consume both individuals and society. Who lurks behind our fence? How many seniors does it take to change a regime? And why does fear so readily transform into anger?

Directed by Tomáš Soldán, this original production is not a reconstruction of a criminal case. On stage, nine actresses and one actor from Studio SEN draw inspiration from Balda's story, playing grotesque and balladic situations with detachment and personal engagement. Instead of dark solitude, they bring collective energy and a desire to find courage where fear reigns. The result is a mosaic of stories - about radicalization and xenophobia, about gardening, neighborhood fences, and Czech songs supposedly under threat.

Behind the project stands director and radio author Tomáš Soldán, a member of the Brno artistic group Masakr Elsinor with experience from Czech and international stages, and set designer Jana Hauskrechtová, who collaborates with leading Czech theatres and received recognition at the ...příští vlna/next wave... festival. BAL@DA is a playful collage where fiction intertwines with reality, the struggle for tradition with confusion, and heroic posturing with ordinary life.

The production appeals to those who love poetry, are interested in current social issues - radicalization, manipulation, and the power of fear - want to see how serious topics can be handled with wit and irony, or are curious about an unconventional theatre group with strong collective energy and passion for theatre.