Dafa Theater: War maker (CZ)

Dafa Theater is a Czech-based multi-awarded puppet theater company was co-founded in 2015 by two graduates of the prestigious Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU)/Czechia. At Dafa Theater, warmth isn't just a word—it's the very essence of our identity. Rooted in the Arabic word "Dafa," meaning warmth, our theater is founded on the principles of inclusivity, hospitality, and the transformative power of human connection. We believe that art has the remarkable ability to bring warmth to people's hearts, fostering a sense of home, belonging and shared humanity. Dafa Theater acts as a vibrant object and physical theater lab, a touring theater, cultural preserver and knowledge platform.Dafa explores the capacities of object theater in expression, innovation, communication and its potential to challenge stereotypes, transcend boundaries and foster meaningful dialogue. Since its establishment, Dafa has created many performances for children and adults and is invited on a regular basis to take part at international festivals. In their performances, Dafa combines principles of puppetry, devised, “alternative” theatre, physical theatre, music, and multimedia design to build new and exciting productions based on both fiction and documented history. The company regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary artists in the Czech Republic and abroad. Dafa also produces multi-genre performance festivals, animation, and puppet films. The company co-founded the LIV’in festival in Prague in 2018 and Ya Khayal Theatre Lab for refugees and local youth in Amman, Jordan in 2019. They also offer international theatre residencies for children and adults. Dafa Theater’s internationally acclaimed show Smooth Life debuted in 2014. It has been performed over 200 times across three continents, including at prominent cultural venues and at puppet and theatre festivals in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Jordan, Austria, Norway, India, Egypt, Macao, Serbia, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Poland, where it received two Jury distinctions for original artistic concepts. The company’s most recent production War Maker has been touring in Europe, the United States and Arab world. War Maker got 5 awards at international festivals in Poland, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia. Dafa is a partner in several EU co-funded projects such as In Memoriam, exploring visual expression based on using objects, materials, bodies and personal memories. Dafa founded Ya Khayyal Theatre Lab. for youth in Jordan in 2019. This Summer Theatre Lab. brought theatre and puppetry practitioners, European and Arab, to share and exchange with Arab youth. Dafa also is a partner in the Objects without borders project, Exploring how objects connect across borders, boundaries and difference. The project is a continuous practice-based research project started in 2021, funded partly by Bath Spa University / UK, with partners: Wattle and Daub/UK, Theatre Orchard/UK, Sam the artist/UK and Seenaryo/Jordan, producer: Rachel McNally. LINK TO DAFA’S WEBSITE: https://dafatheater.com/