KHWOSHCH Group (Czechia)

Framed in a miniature proscenium, The Nutcracker. Vegetable Ballet develops a novel choreography based on the potential of plant-based dancers in an exploration of traditional theatre forms and the possibilities of puppetry.

The result is a unique miniature show that reveals a new dimension to this classic and the magic of unconventional puppetry.

It is the first collaboration between Daria Gosteva, scenographer and director, and Anastázie Dobrodinská, actress and dancer, who met at the Department of Alternative and Puppet Theatre at the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague/DAMU.

Daria Gosteva and Anastázie Dobrodinská received the City of Pilsen Award for their graceful puppet manipulation in The Nutcracker: Vegetable Ballet.

^{"The quality of this production is not just based on the beautiful seasonal vegetables. It also reflects a great knowledge of ballet choreography, the simplicity of the individual images and the work of movement. And this is not just when they bring in the vegetables, but also with every gentle placement of other objects on the small stage. Anastázie Dobrodinská seems to be dancing, even if she's just walking with a tray among the audience.” - Kristýna Vinařová, Skupa's Daily}

^{“An extremely delicate project.” - Lucie Kocourkova, Opera+}

BIO

Daria Gosteva and Anastázie Dobrodinská (KHWOSHCH group) met at Kald DAMU (Department of Alternative and Puppet Theatre at the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague). The oldest puppetry department in the world, KALD DAMU was founded in 1952 by Josef Skupa and given its current name in 1991 by Josef Krofta. Anastázie (Bube Rube (666 entertainment), Fabula Sylvestris (Musaši entertainment company)) is engaged in acting and dancing, while Daria (Dinopera, Moskva-Dačnoje, Heavy Theatre, KHWOSHCH group) dedicates herself to scenography and directing. The Nutcracker: Vegetable Ballet is the next step in Daria’s research of traditional theatre forms and the possibilities of puppet theatre after the famous tragic dinosaur opera Dinopera (KHWOSHCH group), which travels around Europe for the last three years.

Anastázie Dobrodinská, as an actual human ballerina who knows all the Nutcracker numbers by heart and feet, she carefully researched the potential of vegetable dancers to create a unique choreography. Daria and Anastasia and other two members of KHWOSHCH group, Frieda Gawenda and Mathias Baresel, are currently working on their next piece called Shakespearean puppet mass.

_CREDITS

_{Concept, performers: Daria Gosteva, Anastázie Dobrodinská Direction and scenography: Daria Gosteva Vegetable choreography: Anastázie Dobrodinská, Daria Gosteva Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Arcangelo Corelli Support: KALD DAMU e Nová Sit´ Photography: Johana Bartová, Aivars Ivbulis} 

_{www.gostevojtheatre.com}