For decades, the end of June in Hradec Králové has been inseparably linked with a several-day celebration of theatre, the body and all its senses: a theatre festival.
REGIONY International Theatre Festival Hradec Králové (formerly the Theatre of European Regions festival and the Open Air Programme) is one of the city’s most significant cultural events and the largest theatre showcase in the Czech Republic. Thanks to its long-standing tradition, rich history and the reputation of its organisers – Klicpera Theatre, Drak Theatre and kontrapunkt, z. ú. – it can rightfully be described as a key event within Czech theatre festival culture as a whole. The genius loci of the historic centre of Hradec Králové contributes to the unique atmosphere of a festival whose character is often compared to the theatre festival in Avignon.
Regiony is an exceptional, vibrant event reflecting a rich cross-section of contemporary Czech and international cultural life. The entire city suddenly changes from a steady urban backdrop into a living mechanism, one great interconnected performance flowing through parks, streets, walls and, above all, people. It offers extraordinary cultural experiences and for many theatre companies it has become a traditional highlight at the end of the theatre season.
The festival dramaturgy presents a cross-section of the contemporary Czech theatre scene, from amateur ensembles through student productions and independent professional companies to productions by renowned Czech stages. In addition, every year the festival brings to Hradec Králové original productions resonating on the current international scene, often presented in the Czech Republic for the very first time.
„What matters is that Hradec has succeeded in creating an event whose atmosphere and breadth can hardly be compared to anything other than the Karlovy Vary film festival or major music festivals.“ Vladimír Mikulka, critic and editor of Svět a divadlo magazine
