Miroslav Machácek
Encyclopedia
Miroslav Macháček was a Czech
theatre director and actor
.
. His father was a car painter and a custodian of the theatre in Nymburk and sometimes worked as an actor and director, as well. Young Miroslav could see many famous Czech actors who were guests in the theatre. His father enrolled him in a gymnasium
, but he was expelled after a few years and had to study back at elementary school, and then he started to learn to be a hammerman in the Aero
factory. He took part in evening theatre rehearsals in Prague
and met actors such as Jiří Sovák
, Martin Růžek
, Václav Voska etc. He passed the exam to a theatre school but it was the time when all the higher level schools in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
were closed down. He entered the school after the war (Miloš Nedbal was his teacher) and graduated in 1948. At first he slept in the school building (Rudolfinum
) and then with his schoolmates (e.g. Stanislav Remunda). After school he worked in the Pardubice
theatre and in 1950 he moved to Prague and started working for Realist theatre and DAMU (Theatre Conservatory). A year later he was accused of revolting and spy contacts and was fired from the theatre as well as from the school. He had to write an obligatory heart-searching confession. He tried to commit suicide and eventually left for České Budějovice
to work in the local theatre. In 1956 (the time of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union) he returned to Prague and in 1959 he started his career in the most prestigious theatre in the country – National Theatre
. He was a constituent member of the Činoherní klub (1965). In April 1969 he left the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
and had much trouble at work. He directed Shakespeare's Henry V
; it was a remarkable success, although it was claimed to be anti-communist and Macháček had to stop working for TV and movies. In 1975 he made a critical speech in the theatre (after the premiere of Optimistic Tragedy
by Vsevolod Vishnevskiy
) and was forced to go to Psychiatric Hospital in Bohnice
where he spent 117 days. He came back to National Theatre and made his best plays, among them Naši Furianti by Ladislav Stroupežnický
(premiered on 13 May 1979), often considered to be the best staging in the post-war history of Czech theatre. He retired on 1 January 1989 but actively took part in the Velvet Revolution
.
He married Věra Štiborová in 1949 and had a daughter Kateřina, an actress. It was not a happy marriage and they divorced when he met Ester Krumbachová, an actress, in České Budějovice. They parted in the early 1960s and Macháček started a relationship with Jana Břežková. His daughter Kateřina edited her father's notes from the hospital under the name Notes from a Madhouse (Zápisky z blázince, 1995). Her own 300-page biographical book about her father will come out in 2009.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
theatre director and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Life and theatre career
Miroslav Macháček was born in NymburkNymburk
Nymburk is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located 45 km east of Prague on the Elbe River. It is also home to the Czech men's basketball team ČEZ Basketball Nymburk...
. His father was a car painter and a custodian of the theatre in Nymburk and sometimes worked as an actor and director, as well. Young Miroslav could see many famous Czech actors who were guests in the theatre. His father enrolled him in a gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
, but he was expelled after a few years and had to study back at elementary school, and then he started to learn to be a hammerman in the Aero
Aero Vodochody
Aero Vodochody is a Czech aircraft company, active from 1919, notable for producing the L-29 Delfin, L-39 Albatros, L-59 Super Albatros and the L-159 Alca....
factory. He took part in evening theatre rehearsals in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and met actors such as Jiří Sovák
Jirí Sovák
Jiří Sovák was a Czech actor, best known for his comedy roles.-Life and theatre career:Jiří Sovák was born Jiří Schmitzer to the family of an innkeeper in Prague. In 1941 he graduated from Prague State Conservatory where he had been studying drama...
, Martin Růžek
Martin Růžek
Martin Růžek, born Martin Erhard was a Czech actor. He starred in the film Poslední propadne peklu under director Ludvík Ráža in 1982.-Selected filmography:...
, Václav Voska etc. He passed the exam to a theatre school but it was the time when all the higher level schools in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was the majority ethnic-Czech protectorate which Nazi Germany established in the central parts of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia in what is today the Czech Republic...
were closed down. He entered the school after the war (Miloš Nedbal was his teacher) and graduated in 1948. At first he slept in the school building (Rudolfinum
Rudolfinum
The Rudolfinum is a music auditorium in Prague, Czech Republic. It is designed in the neo-renaissance style and is situated on Jan Palach Square on the bank of the river Vltava.-Overview:...
) and then with his schoolmates (e.g. Stanislav Remunda). After school he worked in the Pardubice
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
theatre and in 1950 he moved to Prague and started working for Realist theatre and DAMU (Theatre Conservatory). A year later he was accused of revolting and spy contacts and was fired from the theatre as well as from the school. He had to write an obligatory heart-searching confession. He tried to commit suicide and eventually left for České Budějovice
Ceské Budejovice
České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
to work in the local theatre. In 1956 (the time of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union) he returned to Prague and in 1959 he started his career in the most prestigious theatre in the country – National Theatre
National Theatre (Prague)
The National Theatre in Prague is known as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and maintained by the most distinguished...
. He was a constituent member of the Činoherní klub (1965). In April 1969 he left the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
and had much trouble at work. He directed Shakespeare's Henry V
Henry V (play)
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
; it was a remarkable success, although it was claimed to be anti-communist and Macháček had to stop working for TV and movies. In 1975 he made a critical speech in the theatre (after the premiere of Optimistic Tragedy
Optimistic Tragedy (Play)
Optimistic Tragedy is a play written by Vsevolod Vishnevskiy in the Soviet Union in 1933 with a dedication to the 15th anniversary of the Red Army....
by Vsevolod Vishnevskiy
Vsevolod Vishnevskiy
Vsevolod Vitalievich Vishnevsky was a Soviet dramatist and prose writer.He was born in 1900 in Saint Petersburg and educated at a Petersburg gymnasium. During World War I he enrolled in Baltic Fleet as sea cadet...
) and was forced to go to Psychiatric Hospital in Bohnice
Bohnice
Bohnice is a district in the north of Prague, located in Prague 8, some 5 km north of city centre. The district is home to a large psychiatric hospital and a large panel housing estate.-Neighbouring districts:...
where he spent 117 days. He came back to National Theatre and made his best plays, among them Naši Furianti by Ladislav Stroupežnický
Ladislav Stroupežnický
Ladislav Stroupežnický was a renowned Czech author, playwright, and dramatist, best known for the frequently staged play Naši furianti.-Life:...
(premiered on 13 May 1979), often considered to be the best staging in the post-war history of Czech theatre. He retired on 1 January 1989 but actively took part in the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
.
He married Věra Štiborová in 1949 and had a daughter Kateřina, an actress. It was not a happy marriage and they divorced when he met Ester Krumbachová, an actress, in České Budějovice. They parted in the early 1960s and Macháček started a relationship with Jana Břežková. His daughter Kateřina edited her father's notes from the hospital under the name Notes from a Madhouse (Zápisky z blázince, 1995). Her own 300-page biographical book about her father will come out in 2009.
Film
Miroslav Macháček played roles in Czech films:- Ďáblova past (František VláčilFrantišek VlácilFrantišek Vláčil was a Czech film director, painter, and graphic artist.Between 1945 and 1950, he studied esthetics and art history at Masaryk University in Brno. Later he worked in various groups and ateliers , but his main area became played film...
1961) - Valley of the BeesÚdolí včel (film)The Valley of the Bees is a 1967 Czechoslovak historical drama film directed by František Vláčil. The boy Ondrej grows to manhood in a harsh religious order, where, with a hint of homoerotic tension, a Teutonic knight and veteran of the crusades becomes his mentor...
(1967) - Stín kapradiny (František Vláčil, 1984)
- Skalpel, prosím (Jiří SvobodaJirí SvobodaJiří Svoboda is a Czech former volleyball player who competed for Czechoslovakia in the 1968 Summer Olympics.He was born in Zubří....
, 1985). - Wolf's HoleWolf's HoleWolf's Hole is a 1987 Czechoslovak science fiction horror film directed by Věra Chytilová. It was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Miroslav Macháček as Daddy* Tomás Palatý as Dingo* Stepánka Cervenková as Babeta...
(1987)