Which plays are being performed in the Czech Republic? Editor and translator Barbora Schnelle, together with publisher Matthias Naumann, will present the newly published anthology Am Wannenrand, which features nine contemporary Czech plays. At the same time, Jürgen Popig, co-director of the Heidelberg Stückemarkt, will provide an insight into the programme for the next festival, at which the Czech Republic is the guest country. Featuring short readings, performed by actors from the Heidelberg Theatre & Orchestra, from the plays Trollmama by Hana D. Lehečková, which explores today’s internet culture; Spottschau by Tomáš Dianiška, about the trans man and sportsman Zdeněk Koubek, who set many world records as a female athlete in the interwar period; and Ausgewohnt by Tomáš Ráliš, which addresses the current housing crisis. The authors will be in attendance to present their plays. Organised by Drama Panorama e. V., Neofelis Verlag and the Heidelberg Theatre & Orchestra.

Book launch and reading from three plays by Tomáš Dianiška, Hana D. Lehečková and Tomáš Ráliš

Sunday, 11 October 2026 | 1.15–2.00 pm
Frankfurt Book Fair | Czech stand (Hall 3.1, Stand C65)

The event is taking place as part of the Year of Czech Culture in German-speaking countries, which is being organised to mark the Czech Republic’s appearance as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2026. Full details of the Guest of Honour programme can be found at https://czechia2026.com/

Supported by the German-Czech Future Fund, the Moravian Regional Library, Brno, the Czech Literary Centre and Dilia z. s. In collaboration with Neofelis Verlag and Theater & Orchester Heidelberg.