Black Light Theatre (in Czech, ‘černé divadlo’) is a theatrical performance characterised by the use of black box theatre augmented by black light illusion. The characteristics of black light theatre are the use of black curtains, a darkened stage and black lighting. At the same time, the performers wear fluorescent costumes in order to create visual illusions. This form of theatre originated in Asia and can be found in many places around the world. In modern European culture, the black box trick was adopted by the Russian director Konstantin Stanislavski, the film director George Melies and various French avant-garde directors during the 1950s.
Jiri Srnec: The father of modern black light theatre
The father of modern black light theatre, the creator of the black cabinet as it is used today, with the placement of spot and UV lights and the selection of black velvet as the best material to absorb residual light on the scene (and the creator of the name “black light theatre”), is Jiri Srnec. The modern black light theatre was born when his ensemble gave its first performance in 1959 in Vienna and became world famous after its participation in the Theatre Festival in Edinburgh in 1962. Prague has since become the home of black light theatre, with around 10 black light theatre companies.
Jiri Srnec’s performances have been seen since the first performance by more than 5 million spectators on more than 300 tours in 68 countries. Jiri Srnec’s company was chosen in 2002 to represent Czech culture during the NATO summit in Prague. In 2011, Jiri Srnec was awarded the Medal of Merit in the field of culture and art. In 2014 he was awarded the European cultural award Trebbia for creative activity. Finally, in 2018, he received the special Thalia award for his “extraordinary contribution to the Czech theatre art”.
A visit to Jiri Srnec’s theatre in Prague
During our visit to Prague, we wanted to watch a black light theatre show. Without a second thought, we decided to book tickets to Jiri Srnec’s theatre. We want to watch a show as genuine as possible, keeping in mind Srnec’s contribution to this genre. Walking down Na Prikope, we looked for the Palac Savarin, where the theatre is located. We entered the inner courtyard of the building and saw the unpretentious entrance of the theatre. There was a small bar at the entrance, and the main hall was relatively small with less than a hundred seats.
The face of a clown was depicted on the curtains of the scene. For a moment a thought crossed our minds: “Is this really the theatre of the great Jiri Srnec?”. Suddenly the lights went out and the show began. It was an anthology of eight scenes from the work of Black Light Theatre Srnec since its founding in 1961.
And then the magic happened
We forgot where we were and got lost in colours, childhood memories and unforgettable images. In the words of Jiri Srnec, “Laughter, or a smile at least, is needed more now – in the over-engineered period of too many words and few good deeds – than before.” After approximately 45 minutes, the lights illuminated the theatre for the intermission, bringing us back to reality. We were looking forward to the second part to start. After the conclusion of the second part, we felt certain that it was one of the most genuine and sincere performances in Europe.
If you happen to visit Prague, be sure to book tickets for this humble yet unique show with global appeal and discover a Czech national cultural treasure.
Book your tickets only through the official site of the theatre. Also, you can buy your tickets at the theatre at least 30 minutes before the show.
See also our articles on Prague Legends
