Dnipro-based youth drama theatre “We Believe!” to Perform Čapek’s White Disease in Ostrava
On Friday, June 13, the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre will host a unique performance of White Disease (Bílá nemoc) by Karel Čapek, staged in Ukrainian with Czech subtitles. This one-night-only event will take place at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre and is presented by the youth drama company "We Believe!" from Dnipro, Ukraine — one of Ostrava’s partner cities.
From the performance of The White Disease by actors from Dnipro, Ukraine. Photo: MMO
“This is a highly original production, both in its form and in its message, which feels chillingly relevant in today’s world. I believe our audiences won’t want to miss this extraordinary experience, especially as it comes from our partner city with whom we share excellent relations,” said Ostrava Mayor Jan Dohnal.
The aim of the production is to spark an open and far-reaching cultural dialogue within society about contemporary values, social norms and human relationships. The staging of White Disease by the Dnipro-based youth drama theatre “We Believe!” serves as a platform for expressing these themes through modern theatrical techniques.
Čapek’s dystopian drama, written in 1937, takes on a startling new realism in light of recent world events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The story follows the brilliant Dr. Galén, who discovers a cure for a deadly disease — but will only release it under one condition aimed at stopping global conflict.
The “We Believe!” theatre company is an authorial ensemble inspired by the work of renowned director and educator Volodymyr Petrenko. Its cast includes his students and features productions by Petrenko himself, as well as works by emerging directors who were shaped within the company.
Tickets for White Disease on June 13, 2025, at 18:30 at the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre can be purchased here: https://bit.ly/4jXaYDc.