Jiří Pokorný

Jiří Pokorný is a Czech stage director and playwright whose work is characterized by a distinct aesthetic and an emphasis on contemporary social issues. Throughout his professional career, he has worked with numerous key Czech theatres and established himself as one of the most prominent creators of his generation. A directing graduate of DAMU in Prague, he completed internships in Antwerp and at the Royal Court Theatre in London. A significant portion of his career has been spent in the leadership of leading theatrical ensembles—he served as the Artistic Director of the Činoherní Studio in Ústí nad Labem (1993–1997) and HaDivadlo in Brno (2001–2004). He was also a member of the artistic leadership at Divadlo Na zábradlí (2002–2006) and has worked with the National Theatre and the Dejvice Theatre. Pokorný is also an acclaimed playwright. For his plays Dad’s Scoring Goals and Rest in Peace, he won first place in the prestigious Alfréd Radok Award drama competition. His play Rest in Peace was performed in English translation at the National Theatre in London.