National Theatre Brno Heads to Japan – Performances in Tokyo and at EXPO 2025 in Osaka
The Drama Ensemble of the National Theatre Brno is embarking on the largest international tour in its history. With the acclaimed production Mother by Karel Čapek, it will perform at the prestigious New National Theatre Tokyo and later in the city of Sakai in Osaka Prefecture, where it will take part in the cultural program of the World EXPO 2025. A total of ten performances will be presented in Czech with Japanese and English subtitles. In the Czech Pavilion, a new project titled Ballet NdB 3 will be introduced, bringing together seasoned dance artists at the end of their careers. They will present two choreographies set to music by Leoš Janáček, performed by the Brno Philharmonic and piano virtuoso Ivo Kahánek.
The production Mother, directed by Štěpán Pácl, premiered in 2022 and has since captivated not only Czech audiences. In 2023, it was successfully staged at the Habima National Theatre in Tel Aviv, Israel. Now it is heading to Japan, a country with a long-standing and deep relationship with Czech culture — for example, the city of Sakai is home to a museum dedicated to Alfons Mucha. The strong interest is also reflected in the fact that all Tokyo performances sold out within a single week.
“It is a great honor for us to present our drama ensemble in Japan, and at the same time, it is a confirmation of the quality of our work. We believe that Mother will resonate with Japanese audiences through its universality and the power of its story,” said NdB Director Martin Glaser.
“An invitation to the New National Theatre Tokyo is undoubtedly one of the greatest honors the Drama Ensemble of the National Theatre Brno has received in its entire history. We deeply value the opportunity to share a piece of our humanist and socially engaged culture with Japanese audiences — a culture shaped not only by Čapek, but also by authors such as Václav Havel and Milan Kundera — and to share our historical experience. All of this in a distinctly contemporary directorial and acting interpretation,” added Milan Šotek, Artistic Director of the Drama Ensemble and dramaturge of the production.
Performance dates:
Tokyo – New National Theatre Tokyo
▪ May 28 – June 2, 2025 (6 performances)
Osaka – Fenice Sakai (City of Sakai)
▪ June 4, 2025 at 19:00
▪ June 5, 2025 at 15:30 (4 performances)
About the Production:
Mother is a powerful anti-war drama about a woman who has lost all her loved ones. Through an intimate family story, Čapek explores themes of resistance, faith, and sacrifice. The strength of the text lies in the confrontations between the mother and the men around her, who are driven by a desire to achieve greatness in the world. In the lead role of Dolores, Tereza Groszmannová delivers an outstanding performance. In heated arguments with her deceased husband, father, and two sons, she defends a woman’s right to influence the fate of her children. Director Štěpán Pácl has conceived the production as a timeless appeal, enriched with a modern visual and interpretive approach.
- The project was created with financial support from the Ministry of Culture Czech Republic.
- The tour is supported by the non-profit organization Společně, o.p.s.
The actors performing in Mother and the dancers from NdB 3 are among the few who had the opportunity to wear the official uniforms currently representing Czechia at EXPO. The uniforms were designed by the successful young Czech designer Jan Černý, who works under his brand Jan Société and is also the author of the Czech Olympic collection. For the EXPO 2025 uniforms, Černý drew inspiration from both Japanese workwear and Czech craftsmanship traditions.
At EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Ballet NdB will present its new project NdB 3, a platform for exceptional performers of mature dance age
The participation of the Ballet of the National Theatre Brno at the World EXPO 2025 marks a significant milestone in the artistic presentation of Czech dance. The innovative project NdB 3 offers a unique perspective on supporting dancers in the final stages of their careers, opening new professional horizons. It represents an extraordinary opportunity for international representation, bringing exceptional prestige to both the ensemble and Czechia. This presentation on a global platform offers an inspiring vision for the future of dance as an art form.
At EXPO 2025, Ballet NdB 3 will make its debut with two original choreographies created specifically for this new project — On the Overgrown Path, choreographed by the Artistic Director of Ballet NdB, and Capriccio by Japanese choreographer Megumi Nakamura. These choreographies interweave compositions by Leoš Janáček, performed live by the Brno Philharmonic, joined by renowned Czech piano virtuoso Ivo Kahánek.
NdB 3 brings together charismatic soloists whose careers have been closely tied to the National Theatres in Prague and Brno — Nikola Márová, Klaudia Radačovská, Ivona Jeličová, Ilia Mironov, Martin Svobodník, Thoriso Magongwa, and Petr Hos. These artists possess a wealth of experience gained through collaborations with leading choreographers, exceptional stage presence, and qualities that younger dancers are still developing. By drawing on their experience, choreographers are able to create distinctive works that go beyond the standard repertoire in both content and interpretation.
Capriccio
The central themes of the individual compositions are defiance and the omnipresence of transience. In Janáček’s Capriccio, choreographer Megumi Nakamura offers a new interpretation of confronting adversity — the kind that often places us in seemingly hopeless situations. Under the motto “against,” she draws inspiration from the unique nature of Janáček’s music, composed for the pianist’s left hand only. This unconventional form evokes in her a sense of courage in the face of despair — a concept she elevates to the core principle of her choreography.
On the Overgrown Path
In his choreographic interpretation of Janáček’s On the Overgrown Path, Mário Radačovský deliberately emphasizes the theme of ever-present impermanence. Through subtle micro-narratives performed by seven dancers, he explores the relentless passage of time and the sense of fate that can, in a single moment, transform the present into eternity through death. Janáček’s music, with its timeless essence and apparent simplicity, provides a perfect foundation for a choreographic line that carries a profound message of hope — that every ending also holds the promise of a new beginning.
Ballet NdB is the second-largest and most prestigious ballet company in Czechia. Since 2022, it has been the only company in Central Europe to include both a junior ensemble (NdB 2) and now also Ballet NdB 3 within its structure. The inspiration for this concept — as with the junior ensemble — comes from the approach of world-renowned choreographer Jiří Kylián, who introduced the philosophy of the three dimensions of an artistic career nearly fifty years ago at the legendary Nederlands Dans Theater.
Performance dates for Ballet NdB 3: June 6, 7, and 8, 2025 at the Czech Pavilion, EXPO 2025
The project by the Ballet of the National Theatre Brno and the Brno Philharmonic — featuring Czech piano virtuoso Ivo Kahánek, who will also perform at the Czech National Pavilion — is funded by the Office of the Commissioner General for the World EXPO 2025.