The ALFA Phenomenon - Documentary by Jaroslav Kratochvil (2021)
Puppet documentary film on the 60th anniversary of the ALFA Theatre in Pilsen

• 1966: founding of the Children's Theatre in Pilsen under the direction of Ladislav Dvořák
  The theatre focused on puppet shows for children in Pilsen and the West Bohemian Region.
• 1970-1976: director Jana Halířová
  Jiří Středa became a key figure in this period, bringing ambitious productions and dramatizations.
• 1976-1982: director Alois Tománek, director Karel Makonj
  This period brought experimental productions, including Makonja's montage of works by Mayakovsky and Blok.
• 1982: the arrival of director Pavel Vasicek
  He enriched the repertoire with adaptations of drama titles and thus covered a wide spectrum of audiences.
• 1985: Luboš Křivánek appointed director
  During this period, the theatre collaborated with various guest artists, including Pavel Kalfus and Ivan Nesveda.
• 1986: arrival of Anna Dudková (Vášová)
  She brought new original productions and worked with a young generation of set designers.
• 1990: Miroslav Pokorný director, Tomáš Dvořák head of the artistic ensemble
  This change in leadership brought a new era of comedic theatre with an emphasis on puppetry techniques.
• 1992: opening of a new building on Rokycanská třída, the theatre was renamed to ALFA Theatre.
  The new space allowed the expansion of the repertoire and technical possibilities of productions.
• 1998-2006: director Jiří Koptík
  During Koptík's leadership, the theatre achieved significant international success with the productions "Jeminkote, Psohlavci" and "The Three Musketeers".
• 1999: the production "Jeminkote, Psohlavci" wins the "Play of the Year" award
  This award brought the theatre national recognition and invitations to international festivals.
• 2006: the production "The Three Musketeers" wins 26 awards
  This production has become an international phenomenon and has been staged in more than 20 countries (reaching its 500th performance in 2023).
  
• 2007-2014: director Tomas Froyda
  During this period, the theatre hosted renowned drama directors such as J. Kačer, J. A. Pitínský and A. Goldflam...
• 2015: director Jakub Hora appointed
  The new management continues the tradition of innovative productions and international cooperation.
  
  
• 2016: 50th anniversary of the theatre's foundation, the arrival of dramaturge Petra Kosová
  Introduces regional themes and begins to promote a new form of method sheets and initiates the creation of worksheets for schools.
  
• 2020: director Tomsa Legierski joins the company
  Legierski continues the tradition of working with puppets, in addition to focusing on original theatre involving actors alongside the creative team.
  
  
• 2020-2021: Pandemic COVID-19, theatre adapts to online forms
  The theatre has created a number of online projects, including streaming performances and educational materials for schools. Alpha has recorded its own CDs of adapted fairy tales from its repertoire.
  
  
• 2020: Production of "The Journey of Good Hans Böhm through Europe", first online premiere
  This production reflected Czech-German relations on a true story from regional history and won awards at domestic and international festivals.
  
  
• 2023: International co-production with Teatr Lalek from Bialystok, Poland
  This collaboration brought two original productions, The Simulator and SnowBall, and strengthened the theatre's international ties.
  
  
• 2023: Co-production with "Jine jeviste" in Neratov, production of "Old Tales of Neratov"
  This project brought together professional actors with mentally challenged performers.
  
  
• 2024: International co-production "Čáslavská-Tokio-1964"
  ALFA Theatre participated in its most challenging international co-production to date. The project "Čáslavská-Tokio-1964" was realized in cooperation with the Tokyo PUK Theatre. Czech and Japanese actors worked on the production under the direction of the creative tandem Jarkovský-Vašíček. This co-production represents a significant step in ALFA Theatre's international cooperation and strengthens its position on the global theatre scene.

Significant awards

• Blanka Josephová-Luňáková: Thalia Award for Lifetime Achievement (2014)
• Tomáš Dvořák: Art Award of the City of Pilsen (2018), State Award for Lifetime Achievement (2020), Thalia Award for Lifetime Achievement (2021)
• Pavel Vasicek: Art Prize of the City of Pilsen (2016)
• Ivan Nesveda: Art Prize of the City of Pilsen (2019)

Other activities

• Since 1967, ALFA Theatre has been the organiser of the Skupova Plzeň festival, which has become an important showcase of Czech puppet theatre.
• Publishing publications on puppetry, including the representative book "Puppetry in Pilsen".
• International tours - spreading the Czech puppetry tradition around the world.

Countries visited:

• Europe: Poland, Yugoslavia (later Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia), Romania, France, Germany, Bulgaria, USSR (later Russia and Ukraine), Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway,...
• America: USA, Canada
• Asia: Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, Turkey,..
• Africa: Tunisia, Ivory Coast
• Participation in the European project Platform 11+ and the follow-up project Connect Up! 12+, focusing on artistic creation for adolescents. Participation in an informal group bringing together domestic theatres focused on this specific type of work.
• Creating educational materials for schools, including worksheets and animated literary quizzes during the COVID-19 pandemic.