Who’s afraid of vampires? Theatre evening with Let the Right One In

The Scandinavian House in Prague in cooperation with Švanda Theatre put on the stage John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel Let the Right One In as a part of the Nordic Theatre Evenings project. A moderated debate will follow after the performance – director Jan Holec, both leading actors Oskar Hes and Denisa Barešová and Nordist Anežka Soukupová will attend the debate. Moderated by Martin Severýn.

Some invitations cannot be taken back. Adaptation of the cult novel on the border between a Nordic detective story, a vampire romance and a psychological drama.

Oskar is a bullied, lonely, teenage boy living with his mother on a housing estate at the edge of town. Eli is the young girl who has just moved in next door. She doesn’t go to school and never leaves the flat by day. Sensing in each other a kindred spirit, the two become devoted friends, when a spate of killings rocks the neighbourhood.

The drama inspired by the vampire myth unfolds in the style of Nordic detective stories, presents contradictory characters and encourages narration in eye-catching stage images. The story of the play draws on the fantastic motives of vampirism, but in its essence it is a psychological drama about growing up in a society in which all authorities fail. It is not disturbing for its bloody scenes but for the gradual manipulation of weak individuals on the margins of society who have turned against those with whom they are oppressed.

The successful adaptation, whose author Jack Thorne, has written, for example, a famous play from the world of Harry Potter, is presented by the Švanda Theatre in its Czech premiere.

Show Length: 2 hrs 10 min including intermission.

The debate will start right after the end of the show in the theatre hall (at around 21:20) and last about half an hour.

The entrance to the debate is a part of the ticket for the whole play.

Both the show and the debate will be in Czech, English subtitles will be available for the show.

More information about the performance and tickets can be found at the theatre’s website.

Photo: P. Borecký, Švanda Theatre
Photo: P. Borecký, Švanda Theatre

Theatre Evenings or Who is afraid of…?

In cooperation with selected theatres introducing texts of Scandinavian authors, the Scandinavian House has launched a series of Nordic Theatre Evenings. We would like the audience to get a deeper insight into the Scandinavian drama, that might not be as popular as the Nordic crime fiction, but can become similarly addictive. Do not be afraid to start tracking the Nordic theatre in the Czech Republic! Unusual horizons and views of the Nordic landscape guaranteed. No need for skis.

The events are organised as commented theatre performances and consist of e. g. a lecturer’s introduction before the performance or a discussion of a various kind, for example sharing of impressions of the play. The introduction provides information about the author, the performed text and a broader context of the piece, or can even familiarise the audience with the performing tradition of more famous, repeatedly staged dramatic texts. After the performance, there is an opportunity to discuss it together. The Theatre Evenings take place in different Prague and Brno theatres 2-4 times a year, depending on the current programmes.

The events are organized with the financial support of statutory town Brno, Prague City Hall and the Ministry of Culture in the Czech Republic.