History
The FLORA THEATRE FESTIVAL is a classic international theatre event that will take place in Olomouc, Czech Republic, for the 14th time in a row in mid-May 2010.
This project, originally intended as an occasion to present only a few productions by Moravian ensemble theatres, has been gradually transformed into a prestigious non-competitive theatre event offering an annual showcase of up-to-date theatre productions both from the Czech Republic and abroad. Since 1999, the FLORA THEATRE FESTIVAL has been accompanied with a different thematic motto each year that aims to frame up the programme and the productions hosted by the festival.
In 2004, the Olomouc Region became the event’s General Partner and due to its marked participation in the project, the festival has seen continual expansion of its programme range. Drama, opera and ballet productions by repertory companies, performances of alternative theatre groups, nonverbal and dance productions, open-air shows, improvised performances and site-specific projects mingle with film screenings and live concerts here. Over the period of 2001–2009, this multicultural event has hosted almost 400 productions: the city of Olomouc has seen performances by theatre artists and musicians hailing not only from the Czech Republic, but also from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia or South Korea, among others.
The FLORA THEATRE FESTIVAL has seen over 100,000 spectators visiting the Moravian Theatre in Olomouc (both at the main stage and “behind the curtain”), the Art Centre of Palacky University Olomouc, or the “Konvikt” (theatre and film hall, the Divine Body Chapel, the courtyard and the ramparts of Art Centre of Palacky University), who could get a taste of the chamber-like atmosphere of Olomouc’s Theatre of Music (Divadlo Hudby), the Theresian Armoury courtyard, the Upper Square (Horní Náměstí), the former “Central” cinema, the city parks, the Reduta concert hall, Hradisko Monastery and St. Maurice Church, the Town Hall courtyard or theatre and circus tents.
Up until 2008, the FLORA THEATRE FESTIVAL had been organized by the Moravian Theatre in Olomouc and since the 13th annual event, the festival programme has been run and produced by the Divadlo Konvikt civic association.