Cesty

*“For us, Cesty has become a matter of the heart in which we have invested an incredible amount of energy. Through this we are paying tribute to the uniqueness of circus art, which is full of authenticity, freedom, risk, poetry, laughter, tears, sweat, pain, and teamwork. An art full of respect and trust, which has been here with us for several centuries.”* – Cirk La Putyka

Visitors can look forward to more than 50 acrobats, actors, dancers, and musicians, who create the Cirk La Putyka, from various parts of the world and across generations. They will see demanding and breathtaking shows, clown performances as well as group choreographies.

The show comprises four chapters. The first one covers the history of the traditional circus art, which is viewed through the Kludsky family. With love and fascination by the craft we draw inspiration from Karel Kludsky, the former principal of Circus Kludsky, with a circus tent featuring four arenas for ten thousand people, his passion for elephants, the greatest circus shows and real stories. We let ourselves get carried away by the poetry of circus art and the magic of the circus arena.

The second chapter is about the company of Cirk La Putyka, about the personal stories of the performers, theirs experiences, about the everyday operation of their theatre. Visitors will see the founding members of Cirk La Putyka, members of the youngest budding generation, as well as the young Ukrainian students with whom Cirk La Putyka is now sharing the theatre and training facilities, and who have, for the time, become part of the company. Visitors will see their joint search for the ways to the hearts of the audience, which has been taking place for more than 13 years.

The third chapter reflects on the creative work of the company during the pandemics under the *#kulturunezastavis* initiative and their desire to keep carrying on despite all the odds and adverse circumstances. Performers have abandoned theatres and looked for new ways of reaching our audience. What were all the places where they have encountered circus, dance, or theatre? What were all the places where they managed to keep culture alive?

The fourth chapter is a celebration of the present moment and togetherness. A celebration that after a year we are all here again.