A puppet-and-object theatre piece about pools—mysterious places and unique ecosystems that serve as shelter, a source of nourishment, and a breeding ground for ancient and rare organisms. The project aims to raise awareness of this fascinating environment, which brings life and biodiversity into the landscape.
In the performance, the pool is both the sole setting and the playing space. It undergoes a transformation—from a dry, silent place, through a water-filled habitat teeming with life, to gradual decline and overgrowth. Moving between the documentary and the fantastical, the piece is intended for both children and adults, inviting audiences to engage with objects, puppets, and materials, and to share in a sense of wonder at life within the pool.
The script is structured into three chapters—Dryness, Life, and Decline—inspired by the cycle of ephemeral pools, characterised by extreme shifts in conditions and gradual disappearance. The emphasis lies on atmosphere, detail, and a balance between documentary precision and poetic expression.
Situated on the boundary between installation and theatre, the production places the audience in immediate proximity to the objects, engaging all the senses. Water is a key element. The stage is composed of waxed canvas impregnated with beeswax and sacks of straw. Rather than conventional scenery, these are artistic objects bearing traces of manual craftsmanship and the scent of natural materials. The project has been developed in consultation with specialists in the creation of natural pools in the Czech Republic.
This concept forms the foundation of the performance supported by Nová síť z.s. - New Network z.s. within the programme Nová krev na scéně - New Blood on the Scene Programme.
In the performance, the pool is both the sole setting and the playing space. It undergoes a transformation—from a dry, silent place, through a water-filled habitat teeming with life, to gradual decline and overgrowth. Moving between the documentary and the fantastical, the piece is intended for both children and adults, inviting audiences to engage with objects, puppets, and materials, and to share in a sense of wonder at life within the pool.
The script is structured into three chapters—Dryness, Life, and Decline—inspired by the cycle of ephemeral pools, characterised by extreme shifts in conditions and gradual disappearance. The emphasis lies on atmosphere, detail, and a balance between documentary precision and poetic expression.
Situated on the boundary between installation and theatre, the production places the audience in immediate proximity to the objects, engaging all the senses. Water is a key element. The stage is composed of waxed canvas impregnated with beeswax and sacks of straw. Rather than conventional scenery, these are artistic objects bearing traces of manual craftsmanship and the scent of natural materials. The project has been developed in consultation with specialists in the creation of natural pools in the Czech Republic.
This concept forms the foundation of the performance supported by Nová síť z.s. - New Network z.s. within the programme Nová krev na scéně - New Blood on the Scene Programme.
Authors: Iva Ščerbáková, Tomáš Zahrádka
Directed by: Iva Ščerbáková
Author: Iva Ščerbáková
Set design: Iva Ščerbáková
Author: Tomáš Zahrádka
Music: Tomáš Zahrádka
Cast: Iva Ščerbáková, Tomáš Zahrádka
Directed by: Iva Ščerbáková
Author: Iva Ščerbáková
Set design: Iva Ščerbáková
Author: Tomáš Zahrádka
Music: Tomáš Zahrádka
Cast: Iva Ščerbáková, Tomáš Zahrádka