HOW TO FEED A DICTATOR
October 17 and 18, 2026
Synagoga na Palmovce
601/4 Ludmilina st., 180 00 Prague 8
Tickets
!!! The festival's special guest is author Witold Szabłowski !!!
This two-day festival will present the complete five-part series of performances inspired by the book of the same name by Polish reporter Witold Szabłowski, who interviewed the personal chefs of the 20th century's most brutal dictators. Each stage chapter is an original work created by artists from the contemporary independent scene. In addition to the performances themselves, the program will also feature discussions with experts, themed culinary events, and a musical program.
PROGRAM
Saturday, October 17
3:00 p.m. – Chapter on Enver Hoxha's chef (directed by Eliáš Gaydečka)
4:30 p.m. – Discussion with Associate Professor Jiří Růžička (the distortion of the human psyche under the influence of totalitarian regimes)
5:30 p.m. – Episode on Fidel Castro's chef (directed by Jakub Gottwald and Pavel Neškudla)
7:00 p.m. – Episode on Saddam Hussein's chef (directed by Linda Straub)
Sunday, October 18
4:00 p.m. – Episode on Pol Pot's cook (directed by Ewa Zembok)
5:30 p.m. – Discussion with Tomáš Uhnák (food as a political and social tool)
6:30 p.m. – Episode on Idi Amin's cook (directed by Ewa Zembok)
8:00 PM – Meet the Author: Witold Szabłowski (moderated by theater scholar Jan Jiřík)
How to Feed a Dictator is a joint project of the Rekultur platform and the Krajinou přílivu association.
Five short theatrical pieces performed by several creative teams combine documentary theater, site-specific performance, and expert discussion. Through the intimate space of the kitchen, the scent of spices, and the clinking of dishes, we gain a glimpse into the private lives of individuals who, with full stomachs, once shaped history. Their echoes can still be heard amid the current turmoil of world events, and together we will attempt to capture them.
The project also serves as a platform for collaboration with the Department of Theory and Criticism at DAMU. Students, under the guidance of department head Jan Jiřík, are involved as "in-house critics," bringing fresh perspectives and connecting artistic practice with the academic world.
The project was created with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the City of Prague, the Prague 8 District, the State Cultural Fund of the Czech Republic, and the Polish Institute in Prague.
Synagoga na Palmovce
601/4 Ludmilina st., 180 00 Prague 8
Tickets
!!! The festival's special guest is author Witold Szabłowski !!!
4:30 p.m. – Discussion with Associate Professor Jiří Růžička (the distortion of the human psyche under the influence of totalitarian regimes)
5:30 p.m. – Episode on Fidel Castro's chef (directed by Jakub Gottwald and Pavel Neškudla)
7:00 p.m. – Episode on Saddam Hussein's chef (directed by Linda Straub)
5:30 p.m. – Discussion with Tomáš Uhnák (food as a political and social tool)
6:30 p.m. – Episode on Idi Amin's cook (directed by Ewa Zembok)
8:00 PM – Meet the Author: Witold Szabłowski (moderated by theater scholar Jan Jiřík)
Five short theatrical pieces performed by several creative teams combine documentary theater, site-specific performance, and expert discussion. Through the intimate space of the kitchen, the scent of spices, and the clinking of dishes, we gain a glimpse into the private lives of individuals who, with full stomachs, once shaped history. Their echoes can still be heard amid the current turmoil of world events, and together we will attempt to capture them.