The theatre encourages people from different countries to practice Czech and tell their stories. Photo: LWF/ J. Pasz
LWF encourages integration and storytelling through an amateur theatre
(LWI) - Memories and personal stories are among the few things that refugees and migrants can carry with them wherever they go. The LWF office in Prague, Czech Republic, encouraged people with different cultural backgrounds and locals to share their stories in a theatre play, to connect and foster integration. The first edition premiered in November 2024.
Based on true stories of foreigners and Czechs living in Prague, the play examines the universal challenges of love, friendship, fear, and tough life choices. The amateur actors brought questions from their everyday experience to the play: How can I navigate societal stereotypes about single motherhood while considering what’s best for me and my baby? Will my girlfriend’s mother accept me, or will she always think I’m using marriage for a residence permit? Where can I get help for domestic violence if I don’t speak the local language? Will the authorities trust me, or will I face deportation? These are just some of the real-life situations explored in Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life, a play that premiered at Vinohrady Theater D21 in Prague.
The production was created with support from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service in Prague to promote intercultural dialogue and integration in the Czech Republic. Since early 2024, LWF Prague has collaborated with local partners to foster understanding between foreigners and locals. Through supporting theater productions, LWF Prague provides a safe platform for people from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences, enhancing mutual empathy and cultural appreciation.
Many scenes were inspired by real-life experiences of the amateur actresses and actors. Photo: LWF/ J. Pasz
The play premiered in early November 2024. Photo: LWF/ J. Pasz
Collision of different worlds
Integrating foreigners into host societies is often seen as a challenge, requiring cooperation from both foreigners and locals. Roleplaying and theater are tools LWF uses in many countries to foster social cohesion and integrate displaced populations with their host communities.
For refugees and migrants in the Czech Republic, the initiative also helps improve language skills. “The performance gave me the confidence to pursue theater,” says Sultanna Khairetdinova, a student from Kazakhstan. “I improved my Czech, was inspired by the audience, and want to keep growing!”
Marie Dos Santos, a musician and songwriter from the Czech Republic, reflects, “I joined to reconnect with theater and explore how our differences enrich us. It restored my artistic confidence, and it was wonderful to share the stage with my husband, who is from Brazil. I’m aware of the cultural stereotypes he faces.”
New perspectives
"Our story allowed the collision of different worlds. We all face problems and deal with them differently. We brought together several stories about what is most important in life: love and friendship, fear, aging, and how difficult it is to make the right choices," says Violetta Eterová, who leads the theater. She is a director originally from Belarus who has lived in the Czech Republic for 27 years. In 2019 she established the theater, focusing on productions with amateur actors.
"Theater is like a mini model of society—through it, foreigners learn how to navigate life here and overcome their fear of speaking Czech. For Czechs, it’s an opportunity to confront and lose prejudices about foreigners," adds Eterová.
As we move from one place to another, we carry our stories with us. These stories help us build bridges between past and present, creating a sense of belonging in new places.
Nazakat BAYERDIYEVA, Director LWF Prague
“As we move from one place to another, we carry our stories with us,” says Nazakat Bayverdiyeva, director of the LWF office in Prague. “These stories build bridges between past and present, creating a sense of belonging in new places. Sharing them enriches us and offers perspectives we might never otherwise see.”
