Czech Republic
The 2010 Czech session will take place on September 30 at 7pm at the Czech Center New York, 321 East 73rd Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)The Book: Leaving, by Václav Havel
Chancellor Rieger is leaving office. But does leaving office necessarily mean that he, his mistress and his extended family have to leave the state villa, which has been their home for years? While his former secretary, and the former secretary to his former secretary, grapple with the mechanics of change and his family prepare to vace an uncertain future, the chancellor himself considers his legacy amid visits from journalists, an infatuated student and his arch-rival and possible successor, Patrick Klein. With echoes of both King Lear and The Cherry Orchard, Vaclav Havel's "Leaving" addresses the themes of change, dispossession and the transfer of power from one generation to the next. The play received its English-language world premiere at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, in September 2008.
"Leaving" is Vaclav Havel's first play since he was propelled to political office in 1989.
About the Author
Václav Havel is Writer and Dramatist, one of the first Spokesmen for Charter 77, leading Figure of the Velvet Revolution of 1989, last President of Czechoslovakia, and First President of the Czech Republic.
From the age of twenty years, Václav Havel published a number of studies and articles in various literary and theatrical periodicals. His first works were presented at the Divadlo Na zabradli, amongst these was the play “The Garden Party” (1963). It soon became a component of the revivalist tendencies of Czechoslovak society in the 1960's. This civic self-awareness culminated in the historic Prague Spring of 1968. During this time Havel not only produced other plays, such as “The Memorandum” (1965) and “The Increased Difficulty of Concentration” (1968), but was also the chair of the Club of Independent Writers and a member of the Club of [Politically] Engaged Non-Partisans. From 1965, he worked at the non-Marxist monthly Tvar.
Since leaving office as President of the Czech Republic on 2nd February 2003 he has focused his activities on the respect of human rights worldwide, particularly in Cuba, Belarus and Burma, as well as on his literary work. As co-founder of the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation Vize 97, he has supported humanitarian, health and educational projects.
For his literary and dramatic works, for his lifelong efforts and opinions, and for his position on the upholding of human rights, Václav Havel is the recipient of a number of state decorations, international awards and honorary doctorates.
More info about Václav Havel: www.vaclavhavel.cz
Reviews
The British Theatre Guide: Leaving is a masterpiece that combines so many genres and influences that one can only marvel at the virtuosity of a playwright who even managed to govern a country in his spare time. – Review by Philip Fischer