ABOUT US
ABOUT US
SLOVAK THEATRE LONDON
About the Project
Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain is a multidisciplinary project that celebrates the stories, resilience, and living legacy of Slovak and Czech migration to the UK. Through photography, theatre, documentary film, and literature, it brings together voices across generations to explore themes of identity, migration, memory, and continuity.
The project is inspired by the book Ulice Londýna sú dláždené zlatom (The Streets of London Are Paved With Gold) by London-based Slovak writer Zuzana Slobodová, who has lived in the UK since 1968. Her collection of short stories, written over many years and often inspired by real experiences, reflects a wide spectrum of migrant lives — not always happy, and not always honourable. Some characters faced hardship, some made unwise choices, and some were not entirely honest. Together, the stories show how different approaches and decisions can shape the paths of individuals and families.
For our exhibition, however, we chose to highlight uplifting narratives of resilience, achievement, and pride, celebrating those who built communities, preserved culture and language, and contributed to life in Britain. In this way, Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain seeks to honour a positive legacy for future generations.
In 2024, we photographed nearly 50 Slovaks and Czechs of all ages and professions, capturing the diversity and richness of these communities. These portraits, created by renowned Slovak photographer Robert Viglaský (lead photographer for Peaky Blinders), go beyond faces. They reveal presence and individuality, memory embedded in objects, and stories shaped by history and migration.
This is the most ambitious project yet for the Slovak Theatre in London. While we have explored migration in earlier productions, this time we take a broader perspective, focusing on migration waves across generations and the ways in which personal choices and circumstances shape identity. Alongside the exhibition, we are creating workshops, a theatre production, and a documentary film — ensuring that the project is not only a reflection but also a living dialogue with the community.
Project Timeline
-
17–22 September 2025: Exhibition launch at The Nunnery Gallery, East London, with accompanying workshops
-
31st January and 2nd February 2026: Premiere of the theatre production, King Alfred Phoenix Theatre
-
Spring 2026: Second exhibition opening at Burgh House, West Hampstead, London
-
2027: Release of the documentary film
At its heart, Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain is a story from the people, for the people — a celebration of courage, memory, and pride in home, wherever it may be.
Supporters and Partners
The project is made possible through the generous financial support of Jan Telenský, the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad, and our crowdfunding donors. We are also grateful for the in-kind contributions of Hapaca Studio and Gas Lighting, whose expertise and resources have supported the project’s development. Our work is enriched by the collaboration of many community partners, including Velehrad London, Czech and Slovak School Okenko, Slovak School and Community Manchester, Slováčik Manchester (Kids Folk Dance Group), the Association of Slovak Schools, Breza and Brezička (Folk Dance Group), the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), the British Czech and Slovak Association (BCSA), and many others who share in our mission to celebrate and sustain Slovak and Czech culture in Britain.
