The Husa na provázku Theatre will stage the world premiere of the production La vie en rose

The creators interpret the story of a woman who, without realising it, survived over two hundred rapes and subsequently decided to open her court case to the public, as a chilling horror musical. Through striking visual and choreographic stylisation and the subversive genre of the musical, they aim to convey to the audience the otherwise ineffable experience of an immense personal tragedy and to raise awareness of the issue of violence against women.

Director Eliška Balog’s original screenplay is a dark journey into the shadowy recesses of the human soul and of Western society as a whole. It offers a profound insight into the inner experiences of a person whose world falls apart overnight and whose family is struck by unimaginable circumstances.

“In my view, the power of Gisèle Pelicot’s story lies precisely in the fact that she managed to turn a great tragedy into an even greater personal triumph. The whole case seems to exist outside our everyday reality – it has left a huge crater in the world as we know it today, and everything connected with it is chilling. The audience will thus experience the oppressive, drowsy, slow-moving atmosphere of a horror film with elements of a musical,” says Eliška Balog, explaining her concept.

The opulent set design by the respected artist Marek Cpin plays an absolutely crucial role in the production. Its centrepiece is a giant stage structure covered with a print depicting an idyllic home. This obstacle deliberately hinders the actors’ and actresses’ movements, thereby metaphorically reflecting the absolute loss of stability in life. The oppressive atmosphere of the production is further enhanced by light design by Jan Hugo Hejzlar.

The complexity of the subject matter called for a strong cast and a stylised form of acting utilising masks. The role of Gisèle will be played by three actresses – Markéta Matulová, Růžena Dvořáková and the ensemble’s newest addition, Sofia Chalányová. Dušan Hřebíček has taken on the challenging role of Dominique Pelicot, the main culprit in the whole affair. However, almost the entire theatre ensemble will appear in the production. The captivating spectacle will feature live vocal performances that cast popular Czech hits in a completely new light:

“The musical genre may come as a surprise to many in connection with such a raw subject matter. However, the selection of Czech pop songs anchors the plot in a domestic context and highlights the way in which various forms of violence and manipulation against women have become so normalised that they permeate even popular culture. In our culture, this problematic behaviour is far more deeply rooted than we realise. We encounter it from childhood onwards, as evidenced by certain fairy tales – for example, the story of Sleeping Beauty, which will also be referenced in the production,” explains dramaturge Veronika Onheiserová, discussing the choice of genre.

The story not only explores the theme of immense personal courage in following the light and becoming a beacon for others, but also focuses on the key social role of the family and the pressing question: Why, as individuals, do we so often remain silent in the face of violence?

Dramaturge Onheiserová adds: “Through her courage in bringing this case to the public’s attention, Gisèle Pelicot, amongst other things, sparked a society-wide wave of questioning these phenomena. We, too, as artists, must not be afraid to bring these issues to light. We believe that we must seek a language for them within the theatre, and a way to convey the inconceivable. Following the example of the case’s central figure, this drama of epic proportions can then become, above all, an ode to life and love.”

The world premiere of the production La vie en rose will take place on Friday 30 October 2026 in the main stage of the Husa na provázku Theatre. The premiere is currently sold out; dates for the nearest performances can be found on the theatre’s website.

Are you facing this issue too? You don’t have to go through it alone. Don’t be afraid to seek help:

proFem
+420 608 222 277, poradna@profem.cz
profem.cz

Bílý kruh bezpečí
free 24-hour helpline 116 006
bkb.cz

Persefona
+420 737 834 345, poradna@persefona.cz
persefona.cz

Konsent
svepomocnaskupina@konsent.cz

Bílý kruh bezpečí provides nationwide, round-the-clock, free legal, psychological and crisis support to victims of any criminal offence. proFem and Persefona specialise in long-term professional support (psychological, legal and social) specifically for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Konsent’s self-help group supports women who have experienced sexual violence.

Contact 
 
Kateřina Theissigová 
PR, publicity, media
+420 603 262 771 
theissigova@provazek.cz 

Zdeňka Kocábová 
PR, reservations
+420 724 155 271 
kocabova@provazek.cz