Laterna Magika: How Josef Svoboda and Alfréd Radok Made the Screen Part of the Stage
Laterna Magika was established by Alfréd Radok and Josef Svoboda for Czechoslovakia's pavilion at Expo 58 in Brussels. This innovative project merged live performance with film, music, dance, and advanced stage technology, emphasizing the relationship between live action and projected visuals. A live actress engaged with filmed figures, with projections carefully timed to the performances. In May 1959, it transitioned to an independent entity within Prague's National Theatre, initially showcasing revue-style acts before moving on to longer works, such as the 1977 debut of Wonderful Circus. Since 1973, Svoboda served as artistic director and created the Polyekran multi-projection system. He championed the establishment of Prague's New Stage, which opened in 1983, giving Laterna Magika a dedicated venue. This article is featured in designboom's SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE chapter, in collaboration with SolidNature.
Key facts
- Laterna Magika was developed by stage director Alfréd Radok and scenographer Josef Svoboda for Czechoslovakia's pavilion at Expo 58 in Brussels.
- The form combined live performance, film projection, music, dance and stage technology, making the stage-image relationship the central subject.
- In the original Expo program, filmed figures appeared to speak to a live actress, with projections timed to acting, music and dance.
- Laterna Magika became an independent company of Prague's National Theatre in May 1959.
- Wonderful Circus premiered in 1977 and remains in the repertoire.
- Josef Svoboda became Laterna Magika's artistic director in 1973.
- Svoboda worked at Prague's National Theatre from the late 1940s and became head of its artistic-technical operations.
- His work on Polyekran combined multiple projection surfaces into a larger image composition; the National Theatre distinguishes Polyekran as a technical system from Laterna Magika as a theatrical form.
- Svoboda pushed for Prague's New Stage to accommodate Laterna Magika during its early 1980s development; the venue opened in 1983.
- The article is part of designboom's SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE chapter, presented in partnership with SolidNature.
Entities
Artists
- Alfréd Radok
- Josef Svoboda
Institutions
- Laterna Magika
- National Theatre
- Expo 58
- designboom
- SolidNature
- New Stage
Locations
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Czechoslovakia