2016
Devised Production
Migrants’ Rhapsody
A dynamic devised performance telling the unspoken afflictions of Slovak migrants in Britain.
DirectorJuliana Sersenová (transition period)
VenuesMultiple London venues · Prague · Brussels · Slovakia
Our Story
From community theatre to a multidisciplinary company.
Slovak Theatre London began as a volunteer Slovak theatre community in 2009. Today it is a professional multidisciplinary cultural organisation creating original theatre, documentary film, exhibitions and community programmes that preserve and celebrate Slovak and Czech stories in Britain.
2009–2014
The community theatre years
Slovak Theatre London was founded in 2009 by Juliana Sersenová as an amateur Slovak theatre community in London. During its first five years, rehearsals and performances took place at the Slovak Catholic Mission in London, where the company built a loyal audience among the Slovak community.
From the beginning, the company created its own original work and welcomed participants regardless of age, profession or previous theatrical experience. Theatre became a space for creative expression, friendship and connection to Slovak culture while living abroad.
During this period, the company's work focused primarily on religious, historical and community themes, laying the foundations for the organisation that exists today.
2014–2017
From community theatre to a professional company
A new chapter began in 2014 with Migrants' Rhapsody. Moving beyond the Slovak Catholic Mission, the company began performing in independent venues and creating work around contemporary experiences of migration, identity and belonging.
Simona Vrabcová joined the theatre community as an actress in 2015 and later became central to its artistic and organisational development. Together with Juliana Sersenová, she helped lead its transition from a volunteer community into a professional cultural organisation.
In autumn 2016, the company adopted the name Slovak Theatre London. In 2017, it was formally established as a registered company, creating a stronger foundation for productions, partnerships, fundraising and international activity.
![Extreme [The New Norm] at Edinburgh Fringe 2023, production photo](https://assets.macaly-user-data.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=webp,width=2000,height=2000,fit=scale-down,quality=90,anim=true/l271wgfnabmnc24iy8sx185d/bk224e5w9aqih45o5yr12pb9/P1hkwa0KSgFM0pjjm4-6Q.jpg)
2018–2023
New stories and wider audiences
Between 2018 and 2019, the company toured Mum, What Did You Want?, exploring migration through the experiences of Slovak mothers, grandmothers and families separated across countries.
After live theatre was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the company reunited to create Extreme [The New Norm]. The devised production reflected on crisis, uncertainty and social behaviour through movement, music, humour and documentary-inspired performance.
In 2023, the production toured to the Edinburgh Fringe and Camden Fringe Festivals, introducing STL's work to wider international audiences. The company also became a member of the Central and Eastern European Creative Network in the UK.
Rebeka Jurčacková joined the company as an actress and technical support, later becoming an integral part of its development. She created STL's new visual identity and now works alongside Simona Vrabcová across creative direction, production and multidisciplinary programmes.
2025–Present
Beyond the stage
Historical image – Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain exhibition / Robert Viglasky
In 2025, Slovak Theatre London entered a new multidisciplinary chapter with Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain. The programme combines photography, personal stories, exhibitions, documentary film, theatre development and community engagement.
Through Portraits, the organisation has expanded its work across galleries, cinemas, schools, cultural institutions and community venues while continuing to explore migration, identity, heritage and belonging.
Today, Slovak Theatre London creates original theatre alongside exhibitions, documentary film and educational programmes, preserving cultural heritage and connecting Slovak, Czech and international audiences through contemporary storytelling.
Throughout its evolution, Slovak Theatre London has remained committed to original storytelling, creative participation, cultural exchange and making Slovak and Czech experiences visible to wider audiences.
Organisational Timeline
The journey
Almost two decades of making work with and for the Slovak and Czech community in Britain.
2009
The original Slovak theatre community is founded
Juliana Sersenová founded the original amateur Slovak theatre community in London. During its first five years the company rehearsed and performed at the Slovak Catholic Mission in London, building an audience for Slovak-language theatre.
2014–2016
A new era: Migrants’ Rhapsody
The new era of STL began with Migrants’ Rhapsody, rehearsed from autumn 2014 outside the Slovak Catholic Mission and performed in completely new venues to Slovak and international audiences. In autumn 2016 the company officially adopted the name Slovak Theatre London.
2015
Simona Vrabcová joins the company
Simona Vrabcová joined the theatre community as an actress and later became central to Slovak Theatre London’s artistic and organisational development. Together with Juliana Sersenová, she led the company’s transition into a professional cultural organisation, expanding its partnerships, funding and international activities.
2017
Slovak Theatre London becomes a registered company
The organisation was formally established as a registered cultural company, marking its transition from a volunteer theatre community to a professional multidisciplinary organisation.
2018–2019
Mum, What Did You Want? and international touring
The company rehearsed and toured Mum, What Did You Want?, returning to the theme of migration through the perspectives of Slovak mothers, grandmothers and the generational distances created by family separation.
2022–2023
Extreme [The New Norm] and the UK festivals
Inspired by the shared experience of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company created and performed Extreme [The New Norm]. In 2023 the production toured to the Edinburgh Fringe and Camden Fringe Festivals, reaching international audiences at two of the UK’s leading arts festivals.
2023
Member of the CEE Creative Network
Slovak Theatre London became a member of the Central and Eastern European Creative Network (CEE Network) in the UK, strengthening collaboration with fellow artists and organisations across Europe.
2023
Rebeka Jurčacková joins the company
Rebeka Jurčacková joined Slovak Theatre London as an actress, initially supporting technical production. She later became an integral part of the company’s development, creating its new visual identity and now working alongside Simona Vrabcová across creative direction, production and multidisciplinary programmes.
2025
Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain launches
The multidisciplinary Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain programme launched at the Nunnery Gallery in East London, marking the company’s expansion beyond theatre into exhibitions, documentary film and community engagement.
2026
Burgh House, Birmingham and the Embassy
The Portraits programme expanded with exhibitions at Burgh House and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in London, alongside Creative Innovation Lab workshops delivered in Birmingham.
2026
Documentary film premiere
The Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain documentary will premiere on 4 November 2026 at The Gate Picturehouse, Notting Hill, London. Expanding the Portraits programme into documentary film, it tells the stories of individuals and communities across professions and generations, documenting the history, identity and contributions of Slovaks and Czechs in Britain for future generations.
2027
A new theatre production in development
Slovak Theatre London plans to return to the stage with a new original production currently in development under the working title Streets of London Are Paved with Gold, inspired by the book of the same name by Zuzana Slobodová.
Productions · 2009–2014
The community theatre years (2009–2014)
The company's first years as a volunteer-led Slovak theatre community, creating original productions for the Slovak community in London while laying the foundations for today's multidisciplinary organisation.
- 2009Shabbat Like We Didn’t ExpectView production →
- 2009Anna’s StoryView production →
- 2010Revealing HopeView production →
- 2010Next Stop: Holy SpiritView production →
- 2011Shabbat Like We Never ExpectedView production →
- 2012Light of the WorldView production →
- 2013Martyrs of Slovakia IView production →
- 2014Martyrs of the Word I + IIView production →
Productions · 2016–Present
Original contemporary productions
The new era of the company — devised work, documentary performance, and productions developed for UK festivals.
2017
Devised Production
Academy for Women
A traditional-style probe into the lives of young women caught in the sex industry.
DirectorSimona Vrabcová
Venues229 Venue, London
2019
Devised Production
Mum, What Did You Want?
The mothers who remained in Slovakia. The grandmothers who fly after their grandchildren.
DirectorJana Zordan
Venues229 Venue, London · Prague
2023
Devised Production
Extreme [The New Norm]
A colourful collage of scenes and characters responding to the lived experience of the pandemic.
DirectorZuzana Strnátová
VenuesLondon: The Cockpit · The Water Rats · Edinburgh: Greenside Venues · Dublin: The Civic · Brussels: Théâtre de la Flûte Enchantée · Slovakia: Teatro Colorato, Bratislava · Bytča: Kultúrny dom · Nitra: Štúdio A4
What Defines Us
Five principles that shape everything we make.
Slovak Theatre London is rooted in the lives of the Slovak and Czech community in Britain. Our work is guided by five values — the ideas that hold our programmes, productions and partnerships together.
- 01
Storytelling
We tell authentic stories that connect Slovak, Czech and international audiences through theatre, documentary film, exhibitions and community engagement.
- 02
Cultural Exchange
We build meaningful cultural dialogue between Slovakia, Czechia and the United Kingdom while creating opportunities for international collaboration.
- 03
Community
Our work grows from real people, lived experiences and strong relationships with communities both in Britain and abroad.
- 04
Creativity
We create original multidisciplinary work by combining theatre, documentary film, exhibitions and education into contemporary cultural programmes.
- 05
Impact
We believe culture creates understanding, strengthens communities and preserves stories that deserve to be remembered and shared.
Today
Our impact
The shape of what we have built — with our community, partners and audiences.
13
Original Productions
Created between 2009–2025.
60+
Performances
Presented across more than 30 venues in 6 countries, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
8,000+
Audience & Community Reach
Across performances, exhibitions, workshops and community events.
200,000+
Digital Reach
Combined online reach across social media and video platforms.
1,000+
Exhibition Visitors
Across the Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain programme.
40+
Creative Collaborators
Actors, directors, photographers, filmmakers, musicians and other creative professionals.