An intimate play inspired by the lives of Zdena Salivarová and Josef Škvorecký, tracing their work, exile, and fight to preserve Czech literature. Presented by Švandovo divadlo in Czech with English supertitles.
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A Girl on the Trampoline from Švandovo divadlo is an intimate play inspired by the lives of Zdena Salivarová and Josef Škvorecký, two exceptional novelists, translators, and spouses whose story spans literary creation, communist Czechoslovakia, and exile in Toronto, Canada. The play looks at their work and difficult lives while also bringing renewed attention to Salivarová, who often remained unfairly in the literary shadow of her husband.
In 1971, Salivarová and Škvorecký founded the exile publishing house ’68 Publishers, about which their friend Milan Kundera declared that “without it, serious printed Czech literature would cease to exist.” The publishing house brought out Czech books that could not be published at home under the totalitarian regime and played a crucial role in preserving the continuity of Czech literature.
A Girl on the Trampoline is presented by Švandovo divadlo. Written by Pavel Jurda and Ensemble, directed by Martin Františák.
Presented in Czech with English supertitles.
The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and presented in collaboration with Czech Center New York and the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York.
This program is part of the annual Rehearsal for Truth Theater Festival, honoring the legacy of Václav Havel. Conceived in 2017 as a shared endeavor of the Václav Havel Center and the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association, the 2026 festival is produced in partnership with Untitled Theater Company No. 61.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
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