The Trenčín Lives Theatre project, which is part of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 programme, will bring two significant theatre events in the coming weeks. Audiences can look forward to the original production Béčka (28 February 2026 at KKC Hviezda) and the award-winning performance piece IHOPEIWILL (5 March 2026 at ODA). Both performances offer a powerful artistic statement about the position of the individual in contemporary society – sometimes through the personal experiences of the actors, sometimes through a reflection on our collective future.
Béčka: On fame, doubts and the desire to be seen
The original play Béčka by Michal Belej was commissioned by the artistic group Príchod Godota. The production is based on the personal experiences and doubts of actress Heidi Šinková and actor Ľuboš Janák, who openly grapple with the question of success and recognition in the acting profession.
Statistics show that less than one per cent of the population will ever experience fame – in Slovakia, that’s about 466 people. Only a fraction of this number are artists, with around 30 new actors and actresses graduating from acting schools every year. The production addresses the pressure of social expectations, comparisons and silent fears of unfulfilled ambitions.
“Béčka are about a generation of actors who stand on the edge between dream and reality. They address the topic of success without pathos, with humour and sincerity that is close to the audience,” says Martin Mazán from the Trenčín 2026 team.
The performance will take place on 28 February 2026 at 7 p.m. in the small hall of KKC Hviezda.
IHOPEIWILL: When does the future begin?
The IHOPEIWILL performance combines physical performance, sound design and visual installation. It reflects our collective future in the context of political tension and climate crisis and asks what we carry from the past and what we can responsibly shape for future generations.
The work was inspired by conversations with people about family relationships and their ideas about the future. Each of the three artistic layers functions independently and in synergy, creating a complex, organic whole.
“IHOPEIWILL offers a sensitive yet urgent reflection on the world we live in. It opens a dialogue about our responsibility towards future generations and the fact that the future does not begin tomorrow, but with our decisions today,” adds Martin Mazán.
The work won the Dosky 2024 award for an extraordinary achievement in the field of dance and was featured on the prestigious Aerowaves 2025 platform.
The programme for the evening of 5 March 2026 at ODA will open at 6.30 p.m. with an exhibition, followed by a performance at 7 p.m. and at 7.45 p.m. a discussion with the authors on the topic: „When does the future begin?“
The Trenčín Lives Theatre project is part of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 programme. Its aim is to bring high-quality contemporary theatre to the city, support international cooperation and create a space for discussion on current social issues through art.
Trenčín 2026 is financially supported by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The partner of Trenčín 2026 is the European Union.
Media contact:
Tereza Fojtová /tereza.fojtova@trencin2026.eu / +421 918 412 621
www.trencin2026.eu
