Miroslav Melena (1937-2008) – Poster for the Czech Puppet Theatre performance of ‘Boj O Tomka’

Description

Miroslav Melena was one of the most important scenographers and theatre architects of the second half of the 20th century. He was one of the last of those who studied under František Tröster at DAMU in Prague; he took part – in tandem with the director Jan Schmid – in shaping Studio Ypsilon Theatre (now a legenday theatre), first in Liberec, then in Prague. Melena also worked with other theatres, both Czech and foreign, not only as a scenographer but as a theatre director. From the 1970s on, he dedicated his talent to theatre architecture, from roofing for open-air summer stages, right through to the redevelopment and reconstruction of theatre interiors; including Archa Theatre in Prague, City Theatre, Reduta Theatre in Brno, Highland (Horácké) Theatre in Jihlava, and many other theatres in the countries of former Yugoslavia. An exhibition of the Melena’s life and work was held at the Old Town Hall in Prague in June 2011, coinciding with the publication of the book Miroslav Melena: Scenographer and Architect by Marie Zdeňková, Josef Vomáčka (Czech Arts & Theatre Institute, 2011).