ANTOLOGÍA - The Launderette, The Suitcases, The Lamps, The Violinist, The Magician, The Photographer

Aug 25, 2026

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ANTOLOGÍA presents a time-travel perspective on Black Light Theatre Srnec, tracing how the 1961 founding and pioneering black-cabinet technique shaped a distinct “genre” over decades. It highlights the miraculous preservation and restoration of original props and analog master tapes, converted to digital and carefully recovered for new productions. The work introduces multiple sketches—The Launderette, The Suitcases, The Lamps, The Violinist, The Magician, and The Photographer—each explained through its origin dates, story premise, and stage artistry.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Sketches overview

The Launderette

The Suitcases

The Lamps

The Violinist

The Magician

The Photographer

ANTOLOGÍA To understand how unique the Antología show is we have to tell you a bit more about it. It is a time machine into the history of our company and since the Black Light Theatre Srnec founded in 1961 by Mr Jiri Srnec is the first Black Light Theatre in the world and for decades the only company using the technique of black cabinet, it is also an insight into the history of this“genre”. It seems like a miracle that the props from these very first black light theatre sketches that were becoming alive all around the world under the skilled hands of old masters of black light theatrethat these props were preserved for decades and that we were able to create new set of props identical to the original pieces. It seems like even bigger miracle that the analog master tapes with the original recordings of the music for these sketches were found in an old chamber under the stage of the studio we used for years for the rehearsals of the new productions. Our sound masters converted the music into digital form and restored it carefully so the essence of the moment-the time that past from the original recordings-would be present. By the way all the music for the sketches was composed by the founder of Black Light Theatre himself-Mr. Jiri Srnec. The Launderette (from 1958) On a summer day a young girl washes laundry the way it used to be washed in the past and hangs the washed laundry on a clothes line. From a ball of wool she knits a long stocking. Her beloved calls her, she runs after him. The clothes on the line come alive. Two pairs of men’s pants awake, stretch and end up fighting over a pair of women’s panties hanging in between them. The knitting needles turn into swords, the two halves of the wool ball into bucklers. The winner courts the frightened onlooker and both jump into the laundry basket. The girl comes back with a bouquet of flowers, but the laundry line is empty! She starts crying. The laundry jumps up out of the basket,“he” and “she”, followed a short while later five little panties. This is the oldest sketch ever created for black light theatre. It was the very first attempt to use the technique of black light theatre as a medium to tell the story. At that time, in the last year on Academy of Performing Arts in 1958, Mr. Jiri Srnec composed the music and the libretto of the Launderette. No one could have suspected that it will be the beginning of what is now a sixty one years journey of the Black Light Theatre Srnec around the world. The Suitcases (from 1961) However even though the Launderette was very successful on the Academy of Performing Arts it was not possible to start a new company with one sketch solely. There was a long way ahead. The technique was yet to be mastered. The history was yet to be written. There did not exist any UV lights or luminescent colours. There was no one to tell what would be the best material to do the black costumes for invisible actors. No “best” position of the lights nor any stage designs such as various covers, cubes, boards and screens which became part of every production later. Mr Srnec with few fellow artist (by the way all painters) were true pioneers on this field. After three years of ups and downs, constant failures and successes, finally in 1961 the full evening show that consisted of several short sketches “What’s next?” was created. The Suitcases sketch is from this very first show of a new company of Black Light Theatre. On the international festival in Edinburgh (1962) the show was acclaimed by critics with words“Black Light Theatre brings back magic to the world's stages”. The skit named“The Suitcases” is one of these magical stories. It deals with a happy man, who is blissful for not having any possessions until the moment that another man comes with a minute possession, a small suitcase. That is the inception of the old motif of envy, the effort to overtop others, theyearning for power, including the premonition of a possible

FAQs

What makes the Antología show unique?

It treats the company’s history like a time machine and emphasizes the original black-light theatre technique, plus the recovery of preserved props and restored recordings.

Why are the original props and recordings important in the show?

They were preserved for decades and recreated to match the first pieces, while analog master tapes were carefully restored so the original essence of the music and timing could be retained.

What is the central theme behind The Suitcases sketch?

It centers on envy and the drive to outdo others, sparked when a small suitcase appears, shaping a motif of power and a possible end where no winner survives.

Aug 25, 2026

Upload by Đào