ABSTRACT
In recent years, two Czech theatre directors have alternated as victors in the imaginary contest for the Alfred Radok Award, the symbolic honouring of the best theatrical production of the year. Nowadays some disturbance is caused first by the prestigious international festival 'Theatre' and next by around two dozen other festivals. For centuries the Czech theatre developed in a close relationship with the German theatre, and this annual survey of leading productions from German-speaking countries aims to renew this natural continuity of mutual inspiration and cooperation interrupted by the Second World War. This record of success can be attributed mainly to the commercial success of the first big Czech post-revolution musicals Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar. It has learnt to adapt to the new situation thanks to the legendary Czech ability for improvisation, which has helped and still helps theatre workers to adapt to makeshift conditions both technically and existentially.
