Vzlet Theatre Prague
The Butcher's Story
Zabijačka: The Butcher's Story is an extraordinary site-specific collectively created opera written and performed to mark the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2022.
Snow slowly descends upon the village. It is winter, and there is a harsh hunger. Fortunately, the long-awaited event that will save everyone is just around the corner. The butcher is coming, there will be a pig slaughter!
As the old folk wisdom says, 'a hungry man is always sad, stuffing the belly is a must,' and a piece of meat is the way out of any existential crisis. The butcher as a messenger of good, the butcher as a redeemer – and a Czech village full of colourful characters.
The original opera is based on the Smetana-Lada tradition, but it arrives at a time when most village pigs have already met their demise. For us, a contribution to Czech art during Lent means an opulent artistic feast with genuine opera singing, dance numbers, and even a children's choir!
— "Ritual Welcoming of Spring: An opportunity to look into one's own guts."
