Apolena Novotná

Apolena Novotná was born in 1975 in Prague. She studied directing and dramaturgy at KALD DAMU. In 1999 she co-founded the Nablízko Theatre, which operated from the Rubín studio and in the Estates Theatre. She made a name for herself with her adaptations of cult literature, of which the most famous to this day is the now legendary production of Tracy's Tiger by William Saroyan.

She became a pioneer of shadow interpreting into sign language in the Czech Republic and Europe. Her first shadow interpreted production of Tracy's Tiger had a seven-year run, and was also staged in Algeria and Germany, where it won the Salvia Award at the International Festival for the Deaf in Munich in 2004.

From 2007 – 2009 she was the director of the Minor Theatre, for which she created a number of original productions for the whole family. Among others she staged František Skála's comics The Great Wandering of Hair and Chin. She continues to work with the Minor Theatre to this day.She has also worked as a teacher at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory and at the School of Acting in Michle. Currently she works as a literary director at Czech Radio. With her auteur production Winter, Frost and Fire within Us Novotná will revive the Nablízko brand, under which she wishes to continue to create with her new ensemble.