David Jařab, Nikolaj Leskov

Lady Macbeth from Ujezd (Lady Macbeth z Újezdu)

Crime drama motivated by passion and desire for freedom. Anatomy of the crime in which the murderer herself is the biggest victim.

Švandovo Theatre Ensemble

Show Length:	2 hrs 20 min including intermission
Director:	David Jařab
Premiere Date:	29. 2. 2020
Derniere Date:	11. 5. 2022

Monster or victim? A story about love and killing inspired by real criminal case.

A drama from the time when Štefánikova Street was still called Kinská Street, when women were almost unlawful property in the hands of their husbands, and when the right to love and freedom had to be redeemed by murder. An adaptation of the renowned story of a woman who defied all who wanted to decide upon her fate.

They forbid her love, she gives them hate. They will take her freedom, she will give them a prison. They claim her life, she directs them to die.

Marriage ensured her social status, but at the same time deprived her of the unrestrained youth. However, Kateřina is not going to give up her freedom. Every restriction, every decision that is made without her knowledge, is just another pretext for a revolt, which it intends to take fate into its own hands.

Inspired by a novel by Russian author Nikolai Semjonovich Leskovy Lady Macbeth of the McDenough, David Jarab wrote an original text set in Prague in the second half of the 19th century. He borrows from the artwork the powerful story and tragic fate of a heroine who tries to escape a crime from an unhappy marriage. But it creates an original and incredibly up-to-date picture of a society that is still divided into the world of women and men.

Lady Macbeth is not only a story of unhappy love and passion that drives man to the worst deeds, but also a sophisticated study of how society can bring up its own criminals, who are only a very thin line from being a victim.

CHARACTERS AND CAST
KATEŘINA HILDEBRANTOVÁ: Natálie Řehořová
KAREL HILDEBRANT: Tomáš Petřík
OLD HILDEBRANT: Luboš Veselý
JOHANN: Matěj Nechvátal
ANNA: Marie Štípková
KRISTA: Anežka Šťastná
ADAM HILDEBRANT: Oskar Hes/Marek Frňka

viola player: Mojmír Kačírek starší, Johana Antoňová, Věra Binarová/Eliška Fleischmannová
violoncello players: Benjamín Lajda, Jan Rezek

PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR: David Jařab
DRAMATURGY: David Košťák
STAGE DESIGN: David Jařab
COSTUMES: Sylva Zimula Hanáková
MUSIC: Jakub Kudláč
ASSISTENT TO DIRECTOR: Olívia Fantúrová
PRODUCTION: Tereza Marková