Bitef

Archa regularly. One of the creations that has arisen from these Czech productions was "Opera La Serra", a satirical look at the tradition of opera, by composer Michal Vieh, and writer and director Jaroslav Dušek. This was also one of the first collaborations with Petr Niki who created the stage design for the production. Since that time. Archa produces Petr's work regularly. In the fall of 1996, the Archa Theatre organised a small American tour of Petr Niki through the North Eastern United States, as well as his participation in the International Puppet Festival in New York City. Artistic Director of the Archa Theatre, Ondrej Hrab, was the first foreigner outside of the United States to receive the achievement award from the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts (1994). Archa Divadlo Noah's Ark was a vessel that carried the potential for a whole new world, keeping it afloat during a dramatic transformation. So it is fitting that the E.F. Burian Theatre has taken the new name Archa as it moves through its own transformation. When the theatre opened, it also re-emerged as a dynamic, multi-faceted space open to collaboration with individuals and companies from all over the world. History Until the political changes in Czechoslovakia in 1989, E.F. Burian Theatre was a typical Czech company, somewhat top-heavy (of 120 employees, only one-third were artistic staff) and never veering away from the repertory tradition. Since the death of Burian in 1959, the artistic development of the company had stagnated under the encumbrance of state control and communist ideology. In 1991, the Prague City Hall, which funds the theatre, decided to hold a competition to find a new artistic

direcotr. They accepted the applicant with the most radical proposal - Ondrej Hrab. Artistic goals Hrab's plan was to abandon the repertory format, and, rather than have an in-house company, use the theatre as an open space where Archa would be able to present a wide variety of dance, theatre, music and multi-media performances. Through a system of artist-in-residency programs. Archa can now cultivate diversity, fresh ideas, and international input. The theatre also hosts festivals and has a visual-arts gallery on its premises. Such a concept is perhaps not so unusual abroad as it is in the Czech Republic, where the tradition of repertory is deeply entrenched, and every theatre space is occupied by its resident company. And of course, both the structure and content of the theatre, until recently, was confined within boundaries delineated by the state, so it was hard to find space for new projects and innovative theatre forms. Archa is helping to remedy this situation. The image of the Ark, taking old animals to populate a new world, is again apt: while remaining aware that art most deeply rooted in tradition. Archa has opened a space for new art. "We don't know exactly what it will be", says Hrab. "Our duty is to prepare a space for it. On the other hand, we want to keep a spiritual coherence to our program".