Premiere February 13 2026

An intermedial performanceabout trauma, escape, and the search for (national) identity.

The protected natural area of the Dobroč Primeval Forest serves as a contrast to the social (concrete) jungle full of twisted characters. This seeming sanctuary hides a Dante-esque journey of discovery: nine circles revealing mysterious creatures, as well as flashbacks of collective (national) memories and grievances.

“And though thy soul be lost in battle fierce and dire
Kill him! For ‘tis nobler to die free than live in slavish mire.”

Alžbeta Vrzgula’s libreto touches the topic of trauma — both personal and social. Trauma we cannot escape because it has been part of our bodies and national (sub)consciousness for generations. The text analyzes the self-image of the Slovak nation — a nation that considers itself the heart (or the belly button) of Europe. We are Slovaks, we are (Central) Europeans, we are members of the European Union and NATO, we are… How do all these identities and their historical layers affect our self-understanding?

“For a time, they called me a tiger, a Carpathian beast, but the image I spread about me was full of lies, like a Tinder profile. I am no predator. I’m not even prey. I am Slovak and nothing else, I can spread the plague and jump out of a ship in time.”

Six performers explore the contemporary consciousness of their countries and nations in the setting of an enchanted forest — appearing as if cut out of Dante, Chagall, and Dobšinský all at once. Is it possible to find intersections between these identities? And where will this journey ultimately lead them? The answers will unfold beneath layers of artistic creation, in a synthesis of perceptions, and with the help of an audio-guide to the inner world. This journey is both individual and collective – much like life in society. And at the end of the road, there (hopefully) awaits insight to the Slovak identity in the 2020s.

Suitable for ages 15+
Running time: 60 minutes