PROFESSIONAL THEATRE SINCE 2007
The Non.Garde Theatre is a professional theatre based in Bratislava, bringing together creators of contemporary art. It creates a continuous and stimulating foundation for the emergence of new work. It offers a space for genre crossovers, openness, and communication with audiences and artists who wish to express themselves freely. It specializes in the creation of original productions. Its members participate in the creation and preparation of the text, set, costumes, direction, and music, as well as the organization of performances. Many also perform in the projects. The Non.Garde Theatre emphasizes a positive relationship to work, creation, and free thinking, and collaborates without prejudice with people who share an interest in these values. It is a stable group of professionals who create out of enthusiasm, for their own joy and the joy of their audience.
Brief history
SINCE 2007
The Non.Garde Theatre was founded in 2007 on the initiative of the then VŠMU (Academy of Performing Arts) students Zuzana Šimová, Diana Strauszová, and Jana Šturdíková. The first premiere was the production Vťahy (Relationships), in which all three participated creatively. Since then, the theatre has grown to include many collaborators and has achieved successful productions and performances at festivals. It has prepared adaptations, dramatizations, original plays, auteur productions, stage readings, performances, open evenings, discussions, and fairy tales.
Collaboration
OTHER COLLABORATORS
HAS COLLABORATED WITH MANY ARTISTS
Stanislava Vlčeková, Lenka Novosedlíková, Mila Dromovich, Marek Kundlák, Nikola Dubovanová, Lenka Kucháreková, Jozef Kurinec, Ivan Šranko, Lucia Pelikantová, Peter Korček, Vlado Šarišský, Dora Letenajová, Laco Kerata, Ján Štrbák, Pavol Vilikovský, Ivan Štrpka, Tomáš Janovic, Vladislava Plančíková, Ivo Dobrovodský, Juraj Hubinák, Petra Vajdová, Eva Križková, Peter Kadlečík, Vlado Zboroň, Martin Kotúček, Gertrúd Mária Prikler, Zuzana Malcová, Peter Drežík, Michal Spielmann, Karin Adzimová, Anežka Petrová, Michal Šabík and others.
Creators
9 PERSONALITIES
Jana Šturdíková
Jana Šturdíková graduated in dramaturgy from the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava, and in photography from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VŠVU) in Bratislava and the Institute of Creative Photography (ITF) in Opava. At the Non.Garde Theatre, she works as a director, author, performer, and manager. She is also involved in other artistic projects: together with Ivan Martinka, she co-wrote the libretto for the production Thumbelina (Palculienka), which received awards at national and international festivals and represented Slovakia at the UNIMA World Puppetry Congress in Chengdu, China (2012). She directed the production The Enigma of Reason (Záhada rozumu, 2025) at the City Theatre Žilina, including the adaptation of the renowned book by Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber. She won 2nd place in the literary competition Poviedka 2021. She has published the photography books Châteaux po našom (Châteaux Our Way) and DOM (HOUSE). The English version of the book DOM (HOUSE) was shortlisted for the prestigious global competition Dummy Award (2026). She exhibits her work in Slovakia and abroad.
Diana Strauszová
Diana Strauszová graduated in scenography and costume design from the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava. At the Non.Garde Theatre, she has contributed as an author and designer to the creation of its signature productions. As a set and costume designer, she has participated in several international projects. She has a long-term collaboration with leading Slovak and Czech repertory theatres, such as the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava, the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra, the Slovak Chamber Theatre in Martin, the Jonáš Záborský Theatre and the Alexander Duchnovič Theatre in Prešov, as well as with the independent scene – Slzy Janka Borodáča. For her theatrical work (e.g., the productions Goodness/Dobro, The Tinker/Drotár, or Outcast), she has been nominated 6 times for the prestigious DOSKY theatre awards. She is also active in film and television production (The Candidate/Kandidát, Tigers in the City/Tigre v meste, Panelák, Búrlivé víno, Dunaj, and others).
Lucia Čarnecká
Lucia Čarnecká graduated in theatre management from the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) and in sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VŠVU) in Bratislava, where she currently works as an assistant professor in the Sculpture in Context studio following her doctoral studies. At the Non.Garde Theatre, she has prepared several projects as a performer, artist, and manager. She focuses on the application of sculptural techniques within the digital environment and performance. She contrasts classical sculpture and modeling with intangible forms, using the hologram as her primary element of representation. She is also involved in project management, fundraising, and PR. She has presented her work at the SNG Schaubmar Mill, in Trnava, Poznań, Brno, Olomouc, and at the Hradby Samoty festival.
Ján Štrbák
Ján Štrbák graduated in theatre directing from the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava, where he works as a lecturer at the Department of Directing and Dramaturgy and is a member of the Scientific and Artistic Council. He collaborates with the Non.Garde Theatre as a director and expert consultant. He also works with leading repertory theatres, such as the Ján Palárik Theatre in Trnava, the Slovak Chamber Theatre in Martin, the City Theatre Žilina, the Žilina Puppet Theatre, as well as with the independent scene – the Theatre from the Passage (Divadlo z pasáže) in Banská Bystrica. He is also dedicated to making documentary films (The Journey/Cesta, From the Diary of a Wagon/Z denníka jedného vagóna, Metamorphoses/Metamorfózy). He is a recipient of the DOSKY award for the production Broken Time (Pokazený čas).
Martin Kotúček
Martin Kotúček graduated in scenography and costume design from the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava. He collaborated as an author with the Non.Garde Theatre on the successful production Asperger vs. Wittgenstein (2021), for which he wrote the text and designed the set and costumes. He collaborates with leading Slovak and Czech repertory theatres, such as the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava (SND), the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra, the Slovak Chamber Theatre in Martin, the Aréna Theatre, the Astorka Korzo ’90 Theatre, and the National Theatres in Prague, Brno, and Ostrave. He has been nominated multiple times for the prestigious DOSKY awards, winning in 2016 for his costume designs for the production Fanny and Alexander (SND). He is also involved in film and television production (The Christmas Wish/Vianočné želanie, The Magic Feather/Čarovný kamienok).
Katarína Žgančíková
Katarína Žgančíková graduated in scenography and costume design from the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava. She has prepared the set and costumes for several projects for the Non.Garde Theatre. She collaborates with repertory theatres in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, such as the Ján Palárik Theatre in Trnava—where she also manages the art and decoration workshops—the Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov, the City Theatre Zlín, and the Silesian Theatre in Opava, as well as with the independent scene, including the Nomantinels theatre and Túlavé divadlo. She is also dedicated to film and television work. In 2014, she founded the successful premium, handmade hat and fascinator brand Alate Millinery. Through this brand, she revives the traditional craft of millinery and collaborates with leading Slovak designers.
Vlado Zboroň
Vlado Zboroň collaborated with director Blaho Uhlár, and in 1991 they co-founded the legendary independent auteur theatre Stoka. Since 2000, he has been collaborating with the independent Association for Contemporary Opera. He has performed as a guest artist with the Disk theatre ensemble in Trnava. In 2003, he co-created the theatre project Central Europe Loves You (Stredná Európa ťa miluje), which led to the formation of the independent theatre ensemble SkRAT, where he worked for many years. He has collaborated with various theatre groups, such as Štúdio 12 or Divadelná Nitra, and with inspiring theatre personalities like Anna Grusková, Ingrid Hrubaničová, Ľubo Burgr, Vít Bednárik, Petra Fornayová, Michal Vajdička, and many others. He has appeared in films such as Passionate Kiss/Vášnivý bozk, Time of the Wolves/Čas vlkov, Music/Muzika, The Last Bus/Posledný autobus, Children/Deti, Agatha/Agáva, By a Sharp Knife/Ostrým nožom, Amnesty/Amnestie, The Invalid/Invalid, The Father/Otec, and in other television and student films.
Peter Kadlečík
Peter Kadlečík graduated from the Bratislava Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) under the guidance of Prof. Martin Huba and Prof. Emília Vášáryová. As an actor, he was a member of the artistic ensemble of the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra for 10 years. He performs on permanent theatre stages, such as DPOH or the Astorka Theatre, as well as in independent projects. He has appeared in television series such as Men Don’t Cry/Chlapi neplačú, Daddies/Oteckovia, Secret Lives/Tajné životy, Behind the Glass/Za sklom, City of Shadows/Mesto tieňov, The Hospital/Nemocnica, and others. He played the leading role in the production Kosmopol, which won the Tatra Banka Foundation Award for Art in 2020. Since 2024, he has been performing in its sequel, Monopol.
Gertrud Mária Korpič
Gertrud Mária Korpič graduated in theatre studies from the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava. She is dedicated to acting and translating from the Hungarian language. Between 2011 and 2016, she co-organized a series of festivals titled Csekkold! (Budapest, József Katona Theatre) and Naostro (Prague, Na zábradlí Theatre). She co-founded the festival of contemporary Eastern European theatre Y.east. She has translated plays by renowned contemporary Hungarian playwrights for the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava (Béla Pintér: Dirt/Špina, 2022), the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra (István Tasnádi: Finito, 2025), and others. She performs in the production Kosmopol, which won the Tatra Banka Foundation Award for Art in 2020, and in its sequel, Monopol.