British Czech and Slovak Association

Maria Theresa in Bohemia
2025-10-07 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
A lecture by Richard Bassett. At the age of just twenty-three Empress Maria Theresa succeeded to the Habsburg domains only to find them contested by almost every European power. Over the next forty years she became a fierce leader and opponent, as well as a devoted wife and mother to sixteen children.
Her radical reforms transformed central Europe and her lasting legacy continues to reverberate to this day.
Richard Bassett, former Times correspondent in Eastern Europe and author of the widely acclaimed Last Days in Old Europe first travelled to Prague as an architectural historian. He later spent nearly ten years covering events in communist Czechoslovakia including the Velvet Revolution. An expert on Central Europe, he taught at many European universities and is a Bye-Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge. His latest book is Maria Theresa: Empress, Yale University Press, £25.
Tickets £15 include a glass of wine. See Eventbrite booking link below.
All proceeds raised go towards the care and conservation of Czech heritage.
Image: Empress Maria Theresa by Martin van Meytens (1759), Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, via Creative Commons Wikimedia
EVENT ORGANISED WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE EMBASSY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

Pavel Haas Quartet
2025-10-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP, United Kingdom
Twenty years after the Pavel Haas Quartet triumphed in the Prague Spring Competition, their intelligent artistry, distinguished by intoxicating tonal refinement and searing energy, continues to mature and deepen. They move from Martinů’s acerbic Third String Quartet to the old-world charm of Korngold’s Op.26 and yearning romanticism of Dvořák’s last string quartet.
Bohuslav Martinů String Quartet No. 3
Erich Wolfgang Korngold String Quartet No. 2 in E flat Op. 26
Antonín Dvořák String Quartet in A flat Op. 105

Veronika Jarůšková,violin

Marek Zwiebel,violin

Šimon Truszka,viola

Peter Jarůšek,cello

Fiction from wartime Slovakia
2025-09-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Hatchards Piccadilly, 187 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LE, United Kingdom
Hatchards Piccadilly is delighted to welcome Jan Zikmund of Karolinum Press along with translator Julia Sherwood and literary scholar Tim Beasley-Murray for a discussion of Slovak literature and, in particular, two recently translated prose works of the mid-20th century:
The Hours and the Minutes by Alfonz Bednár translated by David Short
The Hours and The Minutes was first published in Bratislava in 1956, the year of Nikita Khrushchev’s “secret speech”, in which the Soviet leader formally acknowledged Stalin’s tyranny and opened the way for political reform throughout the Eastern Bloc. Alfonz Bednár was one of the first writers to reject nationalist and communist propaganda. In these five novellas, Bednár is preoccupied with the insensitive, even inhuman, rootless, and amoral modernity that the war and Communist Party imported into traditional Slovak life, as well as the rural destruction brought about by modernization and urbanization, and with it a particular approach to life.
The Last Thing by Leopold Lahola translated by Julia Sherwood and Peter Sherwood
Slovak Jewish writer Leopold Lahola escaped deportation to a concentration camp and fought in the resistance – only to then find himself forced into exile by the post-war communist regime. He emerged from obscurity during the brief thaw of the Prague Spring. The nine stories which make up The Last Thing range from the pre-war rise of fascism and its dangers for the Jewish community through the concentration camps and the partisan fight against the Germans, concluding in the devastating awareness of all that had been lost and destroyed in the war. It’s a collection that offers not only a compelling read but starkly new perspectives on the tragedy and grandeur of that momentous time in history.
We hope you will be able to join us if you can for what promises to be a fascinating evening of discussion!

Tickets £5-10 see Eventbrite booking link below

Trio Gaspard
2025-09-21 11:30 - 12:30 | Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP, United Kingdom
Trio Gaspard, hailed by Fanfare for its ‘chameleon-like ability to adapt’ to a vast array of musical styles, follows its residency at Wigmore Hall in 2023-24 with an exploration of two dark-hued works that project the tremendous power and rhythmic energy of Czech music at its finest.

general sale opens 23 April

Bohuslav Martinů Piano Trio No. 2 in D minor
Antonín Dvořák Piano Trio in F minor Op. 65

Jonian Ilias Kadesha violin

Vashti Hunter cello

Nicholas Rimmer piano

The Emil Zátopek Run
2025-09-21 11:00 - 17:00 | Linford Christie Athletic Stadium, Linford Christie Road, London, W12 0DF, United Kingdom
Thames Valley Harriers and the Czech Centre invite you to lace up your trainers and join the fourth annual Emil Zátopek Charity Run — a celebration of grit, greatness and the timeless spirit of one of the most extraordinary athletes the world has ever known.
Whether you’re racing for a personal best, chasing your first finish line, or just soaking in the spirit of sport — this is your run.
This year, we’re introducing a fresh new format:
A 1-MILE CHARITY RUN FOR ALL AGES
&
QUADKIDS ATHLETICS COMPETITION
(athletic mini-races for children in running, jumping, throwing and sprinting)
You can also look forward to

FREE games and other activities by Czech School Without Borders and Okenko.uk

Food, BBQ, Czech beer and other refreshments after the run
Medal Ceremony & Chill-Out Social After the Race

More information about registration and the day’s timings will be available soon.
ABOUT EMIL ZÁTOPEK
Known as “The Czech Locomotive”, Emil Zátopek wasn’t just a runner — he was a force of nature. With an unorthodox stride and unstoppable will, he conquered the 1948 London Olympics and shattered records in Helsinki in 1952, winning gold in the 5000m, 10000m, and marathon — all in one Games. No one has done it since.
There are many books and films about Zátopek’s life and sport achievements, including those of British authors: Richard Askwith’s biography Today We Die a Little: The Rise and Fall of Emil Zatopek, Olympic Legend and Pat Butcher’s Quicksilver: The Mercurial Emil Zatopek.
In 2013, Runner’s World named him the Greatest Runner of All Time.
ZÁTOPEK ATHLETIC FELLOWSHIP
The Emil Zátopek Run was first organised by CC and TVH in 2022 to celebrate Zátopek’s centennial anniversary and raise funds for a newly established Zátopek Athletic Fellowship, empowering young talent from West London to chase their dreams on the track, just like Zátopek once did.
Proceeds from starting fees as well as all voluntary contributions towards the Zátopek Run will be donated to support the Fellowship.
Any donations towards The Zátopek’s Athletic Fellowship can be sent to:
Business Account name: Thames Valley Harriers
Sort Code: 60-05-30
Account Number: 17125197
please add Payment Reference: Zatopek
DIRECTIONS:
Race registration will be next to the Thames Valley Harriers clubhouse in Linford Christie Stadium. The entrance for cars is Artillery Lane off Du Cane Rd, between the hospitals and prison, postcode for satnav W12 OAE. At the end of Artillery Lane approaching the Scrubs, there is a 6’ 6” height barrier entrance to the main car park, the stadium is located at the end of the car park.
For public transport East Acton on the Central Line is the closest station, a few minutes walk from the stadium. Buses stop on Du Cane Rd near Artillery Lane, please see details for buses stopping at Hammersmith Hospital on the Transport for London website.

Jakub Hrůša and Friends
2025-09-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Royal Opera House
New Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša leads the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in a rich programme of Czech and Hungarian music. From the hallucinatory orchestral colours of Béla Bartók’s scandalous Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin, to Antonín Dvořák’s rarely-heard cantata for soloists and chorus, The Spectre’s Bride, an evening of extraordinary musical storytelling awaits. Don’t miss this chance to see the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House centre stage in a thrilling programme of concert works.
Two macabre musical tales
Shocking, scandalous, and a masterclass in orchestration, Béla Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin created a sensation when it was first performed as a ballet in 1926. A young woman dances in a window, luring men to a violent death. What begins as a sordid tale of sex and murder turns into something altogether more sinister, when her final victim demands satisfaction – from beyond the grave… Arranged in 1928, this orchestral Suite condenses the ballet’s lurid tale, stopping short of the story’s bloody consummation, whilst still retaining the score’s hallucinogenic vividness.
Antonín Dvořák’s cantata, The Spectre’s Bride, tells the macabre tale of a young bride-to-be who is kidnapped by a ghost she believes to be her lover. Composed in 1884, and based on a poem by Karel Jaromír Erben (whose folktales inspired Dvořák’s much-loved opera, Rusalka), this rarely-performed work for soloists, chorus and orchestra depicts the bride’s wild ride through a hellish night – but as dawn breaks, order is restored. Alongside the Royal Opera Chorus, a trio of Czech soloists (Kateřina Kněžíková and Pavol Kubáň in their Royal Opera debuts, and Pavel Černoch) bring this spectacular tale to life.
general booking opens 2 July 2025

Emigré Czech architects walking tour
2025-09-07 10:15 - 17:10
A London walking tour to see the work of emigré Czech architects. Following on from John East’s informative lecture in the Czech Embassy last year, we are delighted to have Ivan Margolius (architect and author) show us key buildings, with some of which he was involved.
Meet at 10:15 hrs in the Bollinger Gallery at the Victoria and Albert & Albert Museum. We will see Eva Jiřičná staircases followed by a unique architectural tour of Lords with lunch at their Tavern (13:30 to 14:30). After lunch we will see various Yorke Rosenberg and Mardall/YRM and Future Systems structures in the Waterloo, Canary Wharf and City areas. The tour will end at approximately 17:10 hrs near Chancery Lane, City of London.
Price £30, covering all entrance charges, but not any meals, coffee or extras. PRE-BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL.
Please email us your name/s and those of any guests to:
events@czechfriends.net
Booking deadline is 25th August 2025.
Maximum number of persons: 20
Please send any questions to: info@czechfriends.net
Images, clockwise from top left: Bollinger Gallery in V&A Museum/ Lords Media Centre / West India Quay Bridge / YRM building, Greystoke Place in the City. All images © R. Dowden except for top right ©Hobbs Luton via Creative Commons Wikimedia

Toyen: dreaming in the margins
2025-09-03 10:00 - 2025-10-04 17:00 | Richard Saltoun Gallery, 41 Dover Street, London, W1S 4NS, United Kingdom
Richard Saltoun Gallery presents Dreaming in the Margins: Toyen, the first UK exhibition devoted to one of the most extraordinary women artists of the Surrealist movement, whose reputation and critical reappraisal have risen dramatically in recent years. Recognized one of the most enigmatic and fiercely independent figures in Surrealism, Toyen (1902–1980) was born Marie Čermínová in Prague. She adopted a gender-neutral identity early in life, rejecting societal conventions – a position reflected throughout her work and public persona.
Toyen was a central figure in both the pre war formation of Surrealism in Prague with the Devestil Group and later in post war Paris with the Surrealists. Her workin Prague with Jindřich Štyrský, and later with Jindřich Heisler, were regarded by André Breton as quintessential contributions to the Surrealist movement. Their friendship and creative exchange endured until his death, after which Toyen moved into his former studio at 42 Rue Fontaine, where she lived until her own death in 1980.
This exhibition brings into focus the depth and breadth of Toyen’s graphic work – including illustrated books, prints, drawings, catalogues and archival materials – making it one of the most comprehensive presentations of this part of her oeuvre ever compiled. The exhibits are drawn entirely from a single-owner collection.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, Toyen remained in Nazi-occupied Prague. Following the death of Štyrský in 1942, she entered into a close creative and personal partnership with the poet Jindřich Heisler, who was living in hiding as a Jewish writer. Toyen sheltered Heisler in her apartment for the entire war – an act of profound solidarity and resistance. In 1947, Toyen relocated permanently to Paris with Heisler, and became one of the few women deeply involved in Surrealism’s post war resurgence. In the final two decades of her life, Toyen formed a deep artistic and intellectual bond with the poet, philosopher and fellow Surrealist, Annie Le Brun.
Free entry. Opening times: Tues-Fri, 10am-6pm, Saturdays 11am-5pm.
Image copyright the estate of the artist

Káťa Kabanová
2025-08-03 15:00 - 2025-08-23 19:05 | Glyndbourne, Lewes, Sussex, BN8 5UU, United Kingdom
Janáček’s powerful tale of love and heartache in a searingly beautiful staging.

Trapped in an unhappy marriage Káťa is drawn into a passionate affair. As a wild storm brews, she is overwhelmed by her actions. Damiano Michieletto’s raw staging cuts to the heart of Káťa’s guilt and despair as she makes a choice between love and life itself.
Sung in Czech with English supertitles.
Káťa Kabanová – Kateřina Kněžíková
gardens open 2pm, opera starts at 4pm with a 90 minute interval

Jewish women from Slovakia
2025-06-23 18:00 - 20:30 | Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY, United Kingdom
A panel discussion about Jewish women from Slovakia – Legacy and Identities accompanied by the opening of an exhibition “Women who have left their mark” at the Slovak Embassy, London.

Michal Vaněk – Director of the Museum of Jewish Culture, who prepared the exhibition

Michal has worked at the Museum of Jewish Culture of the Slovak National Museum since 2009, where he started as a curator. He is an author and co-author of several internationally acclaimed exhibitions related to the development of Jewish sport and its leading personalities.

Julia Sherwood – will be talking about “Agneša Kalinová, her life (or Seven Lives) and legacy“ and briefly about Irena Blühová.

Julia is a translator and promoter of Slovak literature She was born and grew up in Bratislava and studied English and Slavonic languages and literature in Cologne, London and Munich. She co-curates the website SlovakLiterature.com and is the editor of Seagull Books’ Slovak List.

Caroline Hilton – will be focusing on the life of her mother, Gerta Vrbová, who is part of the exhibition, after World War II and the challenges she faced.

Caroline is an Associate Professor in Primary Education at UCL Institute of Education.

Dr. Bea Lewkowicz – will be moderating the evening and discussing the lives of the Slovak-Jewish interviewees in the AJR Refugee Voices Archive.

Bea is an Oral Historian and Curator. She is the director and co-founder of two oral history archives, the AJR Refugee Voices Testimony Archive of the Association of Jewish Refugees and Sephardi Voices UK. She is the Project Lead of the Holocaust Testimony UK portal which launched was launched in December 2024, and recently curated the 80 Objects/80 Lives digital exhibition. She is currently working on a book based on her mother’s testimony (Hiding in Plain Sight – A Holocaust Memoir of Survival in Slovakia).

Dr Jana Burešová´s topic for the discussion will be “Lest We Forget Them: The Unacknowledged Inspirational Women“

Jana is a historian specialising in Czechoslovak exile, particularly women refugees and WWII-era migration; contributes to exile studies research and works on works on refugee oral and archival testimonies.
The specially curated exhibition aims to present inspiring female figures of Jewish origin who are linked to the territory of today’s Slovakia – they were born here, lived here or are of Slovak origin – and whose achievements in science, art, and business left a lasting international legacy. In spite of historical barriers, these women rose to prominence and helped to redefine women’s role within society. Through their stories, we warmly encourage you to join us for an evening dedicated to memory, talent and the talent and an ongoing journey to recognition.
Free entry, all are welcome in person or online. Doors open at 5.30pm.
Registration via Eventbrite booking link below is essential.
Hosted by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in London in collaboration with the Museum of Jewish Culture in Bratislava, the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) and the British Czech and Slovak Association (BCSA).

BCSA/CBCC Garden Party
2025-06-21 14:00 - 18:00 | Czech Embassy, 26-30 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
Our summer social will once again be held in the gardens of the Czech and Slovak Embassies, with their kind permission.
All are welcome – not just BCSA members. Bring your friends, bring your family! Enjoy an afternoon relaxing among Slovak, Czech and British people.

Traditional dance performance by Okénko
Raffle prizes include Ensana hotel stays at Buxton Crescent Hotel, Mariánské Lázně – Nové Lázně or Pieštany health spa
Children’s art competition exhibition

The ticket price includes one complimentary alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage. This year catering will be provided by the chef of the Czech Embassy whose premises have been made available to us.

Admission by pre-paid tickets only; see booking link below

£14.00 children (5-15 years)

£19.00 full-time students

£24.00 BCSA members

£30.00 non-members

£60.00 member family package (two adults, three children 5-15)

£72.00 non-member family package (two adults, three children 5-15)

Complimentary admission for children under 5 years

Tickets non-refundable after June 16th (00:00 BST)

Capacity is limited; early booking is recommended to secure your attendance.

Volhynian Czechs in western Ukraine
2025-06-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Czech Embassy, 26-30 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
Who are the Volhynian Czechs? Discover the powerful and little-known story of a Czech community that took root in Volhynia (western Ukraine) in the 19th century—and has stood at the crossroads of war, displacement, and identity ever since.
Professor Lyudmyla Chyzhevska, head of the Zhytomyr Association of Volhynian Czechs and the Czech National Council of Ukraine, she shares insights on:

19th-century Czech settlement in Volhynia
Their role in WWI and WWII
Displacement after the Chernobyl disaster and during recent conflicts
The present-day challenges facing this community

🗣️ Q&A session to follow
Free entry, all are welcome in person or online.
Registration via Eventbrite booking link below is essential.
Organised by the Czech and Slovak School Okénko & the British Czech and Slovak Association in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, London

2025 children's art competition
2025-06-01 12:00 - 2025-06-21 14:00
Calling all young artists and writers in the UK with Czech or Slovak origins!

This year’s theme “FREEDOM” is inspired by the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

What does freedom mean to you today? When do you feel the most free, and why? What does a free world look like in your imagination? Why is freedom important for everyone, not just for you? What message do you want your artwork to share about freedom?

You can express yourself in any ART form.

Winners will be announced at the BCSA/CBCC Garden Party on 21st June 2025 and will receive prizes.

Age categories: 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-18.

Submission in person by 2pm on the day of the garden party or by post by 18th June 2025. Please email events@bcsa.co.uk for the postal address.

We look forward to receiving your art works.

The Auschwitz Report (Správa)
2025-05-20 18:00 - 20:30 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
A screening of the film The Auschwitz Report (Správa) based on the true story of Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler, two prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp who managed to escape with details about the camp’s operation including a label from a canister of the pesticide Zyklon-B, used in the murders there. Once across the border into Žilina, Slovakia, they are asked by the resistance to type up their recollections, which later becomes known as the Vrba-Wetzler report. The pair are eventually introduced to a representative from the Red Cross, who despite disbelief at their claims agrees to pass on the report to the Allies.
A 2021 film directed by Peter Bebjak who co-wrote the script with Jozef Pastéka & Peter Bebjack. It is a co-production between Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany.
Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with actor Noël Czuczor (playing Alfred Wetzler) as well as personal reflections shared by Dr Bea Lewkowitz (Director, Association of Jewish Refugee Voices Testimony Archive) and Caroline Hilton (daughter of Rudi Vrba and Gerta Vrbova). A profile of Gerta is available on the BCSA website Czech Slovak British Connections – British Czech and Slovak Association

Entry to this event is free but registration is essential see booking link below
This event will take place in person only.
Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

Hosted by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in London in cooperation with Association of Jewish Refugees and British Czech and Slovak Association as part of a commemorative series of events marking the 80th anniversary of the Second World War.

The 1938 Runciman Mission to Prague
2025-05-19 18:30 - 19:30
As Europe faces yet another major crisis only 80 years after the end of World War Two and confronts the threat of war while latter-day dictators set the terms of peace in Ukraine, it is timely to revisit the role and aim of the Runciman Mission to Prague from 3 August to 16 September 1938. The context then was Hitler’s geo-political ambition and Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement policy to gain ‘peace for our time’. On 30 September 1938 the Munich Agreement ceded Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland to Hitler – ‘O nás bez nás’ [‘about us without us’]. Must history repeat itself? On 15 March 1939 it was followed by the total occupation of Bohemia and Moravia.
Dr Ann Shukman, granddaughter of William Runciman, will answer questions received in advance regarding the Mission and her insightful book 44 Days in Prague: The Runciman Mission and the Race to Save Europe published by Hurst & Co. UK in 2024. She will be joined by her daughter, Clare Ramos, and her son David Shukman.
Please send any questions for Dr. Shukman to events@bcsa.co.uk.
Dr Shukman graduated in Modern Languages from Cambridge and gained a doctorate in Russian Literary theory from Oxford. Her lifelong interests have been Russia and the Christian church. In 1994 she was one of the first women ordained in the Church of England.
This event will be held via Zoom only.
It is held jointly with the Friends of Czech Heritage (FoCH) www.czechfriends.net
BCSA and FoCH members enjoy free registration which is essential see booking link below
Non-members £10, full-time students £5. Eventbrite fees will be added to the cost of your tickets at checkout.

All proceeds from this event will go to the BCSA School Support Fund established in 2004 to provide support for English language skills in Czech and Slovak schools and other educational institutions. For more information about our fund see www.bcsa.co.uk/school-support-fund/

Legacy of courage and rescue
2025-05-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY, United Kingdom
Legacy of Courage and Rescue: 80 Years Since the End of World War II. A panel discussion organised by the British Czech and Slovak Association, the Memorial Association for Free Czechoslovak Veterans and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic. Join us as we reflect on the heroism, suffering, and hope that emerged from one of the most defining moments of the 20th century.
The event will also include the official presentation of the exhibition “Slovak Memorials to Victims of the II World War”
We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of remembrance, dialogue, and historical reflection.
Panelists:
Gerry Manolas chair, Memorial Association for Free Czechoslovak Veterans
The Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade (Dunkirk)
Film Siege Soldiers- Fortress Dunkirk by George Scott
Sylvia Daintrey on the role of Herbert Lowit in the surrender of Dunkirk
Film Parade of Hope

Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines – The Kindertransport

Magdalena Luscombe and Nina Buckley – RAF Pilots (Václav Robert Bozděch and Antis)

Entry to this event is free but registration is essential, see booking link below
This event will take place in person and will also be livestreamed.
Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

Iva Bittová & JeFis Duo
2025-05-09 19:00 - 2025-05-10 21:00
Singer and violinist Iva Bittová in a joint concert with JeFis Duo (violinist Pavel Fischer and accordionist Jakub Jedlinsky). A captivating world music combining influences of Moravian, Balkan, Jewish, Irish and Roma music.
The work of the duo Jedlinský – Fischer combines traditional ethnic music with elements of classical, jazz and free improvisation. It is inspired by the truth of folk music, whose message is love, joy and the desire for harmony.
Iva Bittová creates her music in a similar way. When such creative souls as these three occasionally meet during their concerts, their musical testimony is even more intensified!
“In today’s divided world full of uncertainty, discord, anger and stupidity, when we seek light and love, or just common human decency, music can be that beacon. It knows no boundaries, it doesn’t judge, it just sounds, consoles and heals.” Duo Jedlinský – Fischer
“My approach to music is based on contact with nature. What really inspires me is absolute silence and a completely positive atmosphere….” Iva Bittová

Manchester Friday 9 May 7pm Didsbury Baptist Church tickets from Czech School & Community Manchester online ticket sales powered by TicketSource
London Saturday 10 May 7pm tickets from Buy tickets – Koncert Iva Bittová & JeFis Duo | Live Performance Iva Bittová & JeFis Duo – St Philip’s Church, Earl’s Court Road
The concerts are organised by the Czech and Slovak School Okénko in cooperation with Czech School & Community Manchester and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in London.

Janáček: Excursions of Mr Brouček
2025-05-04 19:00 - 2025-05-06 21:30 | Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS, United Kingdom
The ‘hero’ of Janáček’s 1920 satire is the sausage- and beer-guzzling Brouček, a complacent, commitment-averse landlord. Over two acts he travels to both the moon and the fifteenth century. Thinking the grass will be greener both times, Brouček finds himself out of step with the communities he encounters, almost fatally so at one point. He ends up learning nothing, yet manages to claim he saved his homeland from disaster. Janáček’s colourful score and vividly-drawn characters are perfect for this uproarious, off-beat story.
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Peter Hoare Brouček
Aleš Briscein Mazal/Blankytný/Petřík
Lucy Crowe Málinka/Etherea/Kunka

Gyula Orendt Sakristán/Lunobor/Domšík
Lukáš Zeman Svatopluk/Würfl/Čaroskvoucí/Ratsherr
Clara Nadeshdin Číšníček/Wunderkind/Student
Arttu Kataja Artist/Dohuslav/Vojta
Linard Vrielink Skladatel/Harfoboj/Miroslav
Hanna Hipp Kedruta

Wild Slovakia with Nigel Marven
2025-04-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY, United Kingdom
Join Nigel Marven as he presents his documentary film Wild Slovakia with Nigel Marven. This highly regarded documentary shows the natural beauties of Slovakia from watching a brown bear at a distance of just 40 metres, fighting with a wood grouse to being completely covered by European ground squirrels.
This documentary was filmed in 2022 and 2023 by a British-Slovak team with exceptional scenes of Slovakia’s nature and also recorded interviews with experts on nature protection, environmentalism and ecotourism.
As the documentary’s official website states “With its biodiversity, Slovakia, as a secret gem of Europe, can compete with exotic countries of the world.”
Nigel Marven is a renowned British wildlife TV presenter, naturalist, conservationist, author, and television producer. He has filmed for National Geographic and Animal Planet, worked for 12 years with Sir David Attenborough and made more than 150 films.
Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
Entry to this event is free but registration is essential see link below
This event will take place in person and will also be livestreamed.
It is held in association with and hosted by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic.

Pioneers of Czech Graphic Design
2025-04-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
The history of both Czech and global graphic design would be incomplete without the ground breaking contributions of Czech artists whose work transcended borders and shaped visual culture worldwide. This event explores the lasting impact of Alphonse Mucha, Karel Teige, Ladislav Sutnar, and Miroslav Šašek—visionaries whose innovations continue to inspire designers today.
Mucha, the pre-eminent exponent of Art Nouveau, revolutionized visual culture in Belle Époque Paris with his iconic theatre and advertising posters, laying the foundation for modern graphic design, whileTeige, a key figure of the European avant-garde, redefined book design through bold typography and geometric compositions. Sutnar pioneered modern information design, creating user-friendly communication systems that remain relevant today, and Šašek’s beloved This is… series of illustrated city guides reshaped how generations of children experienced the world.
Curator Tomoko Sato (Mucha Foundation), Peter Zusi (The Integrity of the Avant-Garde, Karel Teige and the Biography of an Ambition, Legenda 2024),Adrian Shaughnessy (graphic designer and RCA senior lecturer), and Lukáš Novotný (designer and illustrator) will shed light on how these Czech designers helped shape modern visual culture through a series of illustrated presentations, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.
Tomoko Sato has been curator of the Mucha Foundation since 2007, overseeing its exhibition and research programs. Formerly curator at the Barbican Art Gallery (Barbican Centre), London, she has curated a wide range of exhibitions examin- ing the art, architecture, design, and photography of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with a long-standing interest in the artistic and cul- tural cross-fertilization between East and West. Her publications include Japan and Britain: An Aesthetic Dialogue, 1850–1930 (Lund Humphries, 1991), The Wilde Years: Oscar Wilde and the Art of His Time (Philip Wilson, 2000), Mucha (Taschen, 2015), Alphonse Mucha Photographs (Mucha Foundation Publishing, 2018), and Le Pater: Le Grand Oeuvre d’Alphonse Mucha (Édition de la Réunion des musées nationaux-Grand Palais, 2023).
Peter Zusi is Associate Professor of Czech and Comparative Literature at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, where he also serves as Vice Dean for Research in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Peter’s research spans various disciplines, including Czech and German literature and culture from the 18th through 21st centuries, Central European intellectual history, Czechoslovak film and photography, Slovak literature, theory of literary and visual avant-gardes and modernism, philosophy of history, Critical Theory, and the intersection of literature and architecture. He is also the author of the recently published The Integrity of the Avant-Garde: Karel Teige and the Biography of an Ambition (Cambridge, England: Legenda, 2024).
Adrian Shaughnessy is a graphic designer, writer, educator and publisher. A senior lecturer at the RCA, he also works as an independent design consultant. His book How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul has sold 80,000 copies and been translated into multiple languages. He is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale and a regular contributor to leading design journals. He co-founded Unit Editions, publishing acclaimed design books, and has authored monographs on Herb Lubalin, Ken Garland, Paula Scher, Vaughan Oliver, FHK Henrion and Lance Wyman.
Lukáš Novotný is an illustrator, graphic designer and author. His background is in the world of civil engineering and architecture, and most of his illustrations and design work relates to architecture and cities. His latest book, Modern New York, won 2024 Communication Arts Awards while his first book, Modern London, was shortlisted for the British Book Design Awards. His work was featured on BBC Radio London, TimeOut London, Czech Television, Londonist, Grand Designs magazine, Outsider and more.

Admission: £5 (+ Eventbrite fee) see booking link below

Prague 22 tram journey through the city
2025-04-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
Join Raymond Tallis on this illustrated memoir of a daily journey on tram number 22 that links his flat in Vršovice and Prague Castle. Explore with him his observations encompassing the magic, culture and history as well as the tragedy of Prague, interwoven by his philosophical but also humorous reflections, and meet en route a host of prominent figures. This talk is based on Raymond’s book Prague 22: A Philosopher Takes A Tram Through a City published by Philosophy Now in 2025.
Raymond Tallis is a philosopher, poet, novelist and cultural critic, and has published widely on philosophical topics, but prior to his retirement was Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Manchester and was elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in recognition of his contribution to medical research.
This event will take place in person and will also be livestreamed
BCSA members enjoy free entry but registration is essential see booking link below
Non-members £10, full-time students £5. Eventbrite fees will be added to the cost of your tickets at checkout.
Light refreshments will be served after the talk.
All proceeds from this event will go to the BCSA School Support Fund established in 2004 to provide support for English language skills in Czech and Slovak schools and other educational institutions. For more information about our fund see www.bcsa.co.uk/school-support-fund/

A Life in Bat'a Modernism
2025-04-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
Sir John Tusa, born in Zlín, Moravia, talks about the influence of Modernist architecture on his life with some 50 slides of Zlín and Tilbury, including historic videos of East Tilbury and Coronation Day celebrations.
Two days before the German occupation of Czechoslovakia on 15 March 1939, John’s father flew out of Czechoslovakia on a Bat’a company plane via Poland, Yugoslavia and France, becoming general manager and later managing director of the Bat’a factory and its associated village in East Tilbury. British Bat’a Shoes, based on the Czechoslovak pattern, created a pioneering work-living community around its model modern movement factory – estate houses, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and factory buildings all in for 1930s England: a radical concept within the architecture of European High Modernism.
“From the Neo-Bauhaus Modernism of my birth town, Bat’a Zlín, to the so-called ‘Brutalism’ of the Barbican, I have always lived comfortably with Modernism. After all, it is the architecture of my life and times.”
Sir John Tusa is a writer, TV journalist and arts administrator.
Tickets £15 including a glass of wine see booking link below

Míla Fürstová in conversation
2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
The discussion will explore the renowned Czech artist’s life and award winning art. Highly regarded for her etchings and beautiful book illustrations for Czech classics such as Kytice (a bouquet of folk legends) by Karel Jaromír Erben and Božena Němcová’s Babička (grandmother) some of which came to be adapted as Czech postage stamps. Book illustrations for Máj (May) by Karel Hynek Mácha are her latest work.
In 2014 Fürstová’s work reached over 400 million people when she was commissioned to create the artwork for Coldplay’s Ghost Stories album and four singles.
Míla’s large-scale installation Motherhood can be found at 191 Old Marylebone Road on the site of the former Queen Charlotte’s Lying-In Hospital, one of the first hospitals to provide medical care for unmarried women. She won Westminster City Council’s competition for the commission of the work.
Born in Czechoslovakia, Míla gained an MA degree in Art, English Language and Psychology at Charles University in Prague, whilst simultaneously studying for a BA degree in Fine Art Printmaking at the University of Gloucestershire. In 2001 she received a masters degree from the Royal College of Art and subsequently lectured at Coventry University and The University of Gloucestershire. Míla currently lives and works in Cheltenham.
BCSA members enjoy free entry but registration is essential. £10 (+ Eventbrite fee) for non-members, £5 (+ Eventbrite fee) for students. See booking link below.
Light refreshments will be served.
This event will also be livestreamed via Zoom.
All proceeds from this event will go to the BCSA School Support Fund established in 2004 to provide support for English language skills in Czech and Slovak schools and other educational institutions. For more information about our fund see www.bcsa.co.uk/school-support-fund/

BCSA Annual General Meeting 2025
2025-03-19 18:00 - 18:45 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
The BCSA AGM is open to all members. The agenda includes the presentation of the chair’s and financial reports for 2024 plus the election of honorary officers of the executive committee. Copies of the independently examined accounts for 2024 and the minutes of the AGM held on 20 March 2024 will be available at the meeting together with the treasurer’s report.
The four honorary officer posts – chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer – are held for one year and are subject to election at every AGM. The current chair, Jana Nahodilova, as well as the remaining officers, namely Ruzena Holub, Blanka Shrimpton and Ivona Klemensova respectively, are willing to stand for re-election.
Committee members are elected for a term of three years. Jana Buresova is standing for re-election this year and Sandra Milite for election as a full member of the committee.
Any member of the BCSA can be nominated as an honorary officer or committee member. Nomination forms can be obtained from Blanka Shrimpton by e-mail: secretary@bcsa.co.uk and returned to her by 12 March 2025.
Please register your attendance, or apologies for absence, to secretary@bcsa.co.uk.
The AGM will also be livestreamed via Zoom; the link will be made available following registration.
Mila Fürstová in conversation will follow the formal part of the evening.

Czech Philharmonic: Mozart, Mahler
2025-03-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS, United Kingdom
The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Semyon Bychkov perform Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos with Katia and Mariella Labèque followed by Mahler’s Symphony No 5.
Mozart wrote his concerto for two pianos for himself and his sister.
Semyon Bychkov and his Prague orchestra have attracted lavish praise for their Mahler symphony cycle. Their recording of the Symphony No 5 was the Sunday Times’ 2022 Classical Album of the Year, conjuring ‘a musical universe of dreams and prophecies’ full of ‘sonic opulence with textural clarity’ with its achingly poignant Adagietto made famous by Visconti in his film Death in Venice.

Second Czech-Slovak ball
2025-03-08 18:00 | Bohemia House, 74 West End Lane, London, NW6 2LX, United Kingdom
Following a successful first year, we invite you once again to a new edition of the traditional Czech-Slovak ball!
What to Expect: A four-course dinner + welcome drink upon arrival Live performance by the folk band Morena Exciting tombola prizes Music and entertainment hosted by DJ Janci & Fero Dress Code: Black Tie
Tickets: £50 per person see booking link below

Czech Philharmonic: Shostakovich
2025-03-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS, United Kingdom
An orchestra blazing burnished colours, rich string tone, and boundless refinement, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Semyon Bychkov performs Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No 1 with Sheku Kanneh-Mason followed by Symphony No 5.
Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No 1 holds a special place in Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s heart – with it he secured the title of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016. His 2023 performance ‘had the feel of chamber music as if the strings were consoling a colleague who was sharing the depths of his, and the music’s, soul’ (Bachtrack). And ‘the players of the marvelous Czech Philharmonic bring the piece to life as few, if any, orchestras have before or since’ (Classics Today).
The ovation that greeted the 1937 premiere of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony lasted over an hour – perhaps fuelled by its agonisingly intense slow movement and the triumphal ending – though its deeper meaning is fraught with ambiguity.

Celebrating Jan Svěrák’s 60th
2025-02-06 19:00 - 21:30 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
In 1997, Czech filmmaker Jan Svěrák and UK-based producer Eric Abraham captivated the world when their heartfelt masterpiece Kolya won both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. Written by Jan’s father, Zdeněk Svěrák, Kolya became a landmark moment in their celebrated father-son collaboration. But Jan’s journey to Oscar glory began much earlier—with a Student Academy Award in 1988 for his inventive environmental mockumentary Oil Gobblers and the Oscar nomination for Elementary school in 1991.
Now, as Jan Svěrák celebrates his 60th birthday, join us for a special double bill of Kolya and Oil Gobblers, introduced by multi-award-winning producer Eric Abraham. Eric will share behind-the-scenes stories from their groundbreaking partnership, which began with Kolya and continued with acclaimed films like Dark Blue World, Kooky, and Empties. Don’t miss this opportunity to revisit two extraordinary films and celebrate Jan’s birthday with us.
Oil Gobblers
Jan Svěrák, Czechoslovakia 1988, 22´
Cast: Emil Nedbal, Lubomír Beneš, Ivo Kašpar, Jan Rokyta, Jiří Němec
In 1987 northern Bohemia, a team investigates “Petroleus Mostensis,” a mythical creature devouring polyethylene in a toxic industrial wasteland. Blending satire and environmental critique, Jan Svěrák’s student film spotlights Czechoslovakia’s ecological destruction. Amid humour and drama, the mockumentary exposes the consequences of unchecked industrial exploitation. 60
Kolya
Jan Svěrák, Czech Republic, 1996, 105´
Cast: Zdeněk Svěrák, Andrej Chalimon, Libuse Safránková, Ondrej Vetchý
“Enchanting…Kolya deserves all its international success.” The Times
“What makes “Kolya” special is the way it paints the details. Like the films of the Czech New Wave in the late 1960s, it has a cheerful, irreverent humour, and an eye for the absurdities of human behaviour.” Roger Ebert
Oscar® Winner Best Foreign Film (1996). The middle-aged Czech cellist Josef Louka is a skirt-chasing bachelor, who enjoys a lifestyle free of responsibilities. Strapped for cash he agrees to a marriage of convenience. But after his new bride skips town, he is left to father her five-year-old Russian son, Kolya. Neither could be more unhappy with their predicament, especially since they don’t even speak the same language. But time and patience form an unbreakable bond between this unlikely father-son duo.

Admission: £7 (+ Eventbrite fee) see booking link below

BCSA Quiz Night
2025-02-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Bohemia House, 74 West End Lane, London, NW6 2LX, United Kingdom
Did you know that 4th February is the Day of Czechs Abroad? To celebrate in style, we are holding another BCSA Pub Quiz.
This is your chance to show off your knowledge of anything and everything British, Czech and Slovak. Test yourself about how much you know about British, Czech and Slovak connections at this unique quiz presented by the British Czech and Slovak Association (BCSA).
Gather you friends and join us for a fun evening and a friendly competition at Bohemia House in West Hampstead. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
West Hampstead has three stations served by the Jubilee line, Overground and Thameslink.
BCSA members and full time students: £3
Non-members £5
Eventbrite fees will be added to the cost of your tickets at checkout.
If you book 2 or more tickets, we will assume that everyone would like to sit at the same table, i.e. be on the same team.
If you book a ticket for yourself only, please let us know the name of the person you would like to be on the same team with. Alternatively, you can tell us about your strengths in terms of your knowledge and we will team you up with a player with complementary expertise.
West Hampstead has three stations served by the Jubilee line, Overground and Thameslink.
All proceeds from this event will go to the BCSA School Support Fund established in 2004 to provide support for English language skills in Czech and Slovak schools and other educational institutions.

Reflections on the 80th Anniversary of the Yalta Agreement
2025-02-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Czech Embassy cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QY
Join us on the very eve of the Yalta Agreement, to consider some of the seemingly disparate events that preceded and led to the crucial and far-reaching meetings, held from 4-11 February 1945. Yalta, then a small place close to the Black Sea, but of immense significance regarding the political, economic and societal future of the post-war world.
Focusing on Europe, Dr Thomas Lorman (SSEES) will present an overview of the Yalta Agreement, its impact and some of its consequences, and also refer to Hungary. Mimi Kuttelwascherová will cover of the three powers’ experiences at the meetings follows. Gerry Manolas, chair Memorial Association for Free Czechoslovak Veterans, will speak of their sacrifice and show part of historian Dr George Scott’s film, ‘Good Intensions’. Yalta’s impact on Poland will also be discussed and to conclude, Mimi Kuttelwascherová shall briefly describe her involvement in London’s Yalta Memorial, ‘Our Statue of Liberty’.
This illustrated panel discussion will take place in person and will also be livestreamed.
BCSA members enjoy free entry but registration is essential see booking link below.
Non-members £10, full-time students £5.
Eventbrite fees will be added to the cost of your tickets at checkout.
Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
All proceeds from this event will go to the BCSA School Support Fund established in 2004 to provide support for English language skills in Czech and Slovak schools and other educational institutions. For more information about our fund see https://www.bcsa.co.uk/school-support-fund/
