Marián Pecko
Profile
As the stage and artistic director of the Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Marián Pecko has created around one hundred drama, puppet, opera and circus productions. He has collaborated with theatres in Slovakia (Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra, State Opera in Banská Bystrica, Ján Palárik Theatre in Trnava, Slovak Chamber Theatre in Martin), the Czech Republic (Klicper Theatre in Hradec Králové, Puppet Theatre in Ostrava), Poland and Hungary. He is a member of the organizing team of the Puppet Bystrica international festival. His productions have been presented at several Slovak and international festivals in the Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria and France. The productions he has directed in Polish puppet theatres have won a number of prestigious awards.
The essence of Pecko’s directorial work in the Slovak theatre context is integrally connected with the Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads in Banská Bystrica where he has created several remarkable productions for children and adults. The generally known rule of Pecko’s work is that he uses his peculiar poetics and metaphorical theatrical vision with the same intensity when creating productions for children as well as in feature drama productions for adults. Therefore, his work for children can be very demanding. However, the idiosyncratic situations he devises are always comprehensible – they are often built on a realistic foundation and make use of good acting, regardless of whether the actors operate a puppet or not. Pecko skillfully disrupts stage situations with very specific (and often innovative) puppet elements or through sudden theatrical shortcuts that lead to funny punchlines. He uses humour in an elaborate and adequate manner, while creating an interesting contrast with serious passages. However, the humorous scenes never become a mockery or parody which is why the majority of his productions are very refined pieces. Some of the other attributes of Pecko’s artistry include a very natural feel for pacing, precise gradation of situations and the ability to divide the stage design space using a variety of approaches. Stage design is not represented decoratively, but each element of it is accentuated to present the polyfunctionality and multiplicity of the meaning of the individual artefacts.
When choosing subject matter for productions for children, Pecko opts for classical or devised fairy tales that he prepares mostly together with dramaturg and playwright Iveta Škripková. Titles for adults have always – from the beginning of Pecko’s career – included Slovak (The Shepherd’s Wife, Dragon Is Coming Back, Kubo) as well as international (Leonce and Lena, Metamorphosis, Richard III, Madman’s Diary, The Miser, Yerma) drama and literary classics. A separate chapter in Pecko’s career as a director and dramaturg comprises current and socially engaged plays written by Iveta Škripková and produced mostly by the TWIGA Studio in the local Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads. Pecko likes to invite tried-and-true collaborators to join him in the production team: musician Róbert Mankovecký and costume designer Eva Farkašová.
- 1988 / Regional Puppet Theatre in Banská Bystrica / Dušan Dušek, Iveta Škripková: Little Stevie
- 1989/ Regional Puppet Theatre in Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Three Butterflies
- 1990 / Regional Puppet Theatre in Banská Bystrica / Pavol Dobšinský: Wise Matthew and the Fools
- 1990 / Regional Puppet Theatre in Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: For Whom the Sparrows Chirp
- 1990 / Regional Puppet Theatre in Banská Bystrica / Ľubomír Feldek: Mother Holle
- 1991 / Regional Puppet Theatre in Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko: Not Last and Not Least I (PF ’91)
- 1991 / Regional Puppet Theatre in Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko: Not Last and Not Least II – Happiness Is a Beautiful Thing, But...
- 1991 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Fairy Tale 90/91
- 1991 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko: Not Last and Not Least III (Crayons and People)
- 1991 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko: Not Last and Not Least IV What’s the (Bottom of the) Matter?
- 1991 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko: Not Last and Not Least V Pa, Pa, Papoetry
- 1991 / Theatre/School LUDUS, Bratislava / Jiří Mahen: Chocolate the Clown
- 1992 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko: Not Last and Not Least VI How Do You Do, Dominika?
- 1992 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: You Move Me So Much…
- 1992 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Christmas Show (possible appearance by...)
- 1992 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Johannes Doctor Faust, or the Bride From Hell
- 1993 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Mikuláš Kováč: The Death of Don Quixote
- 1993 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Dominika Navarová, Marián Pecko: Christmas Show II (possible appearances by…)
- 1993 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Taverna Magica
- 1994 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Georg Büchner: Leonce and Lena
- 1994 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Charles Dickens, Iveta Škripková: A Christmas Carol
- 1994 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Marián Pecko: Not Last and Not Least VII Circus Cinkeles
- 1994 / Slovak National Uprising Theatre, Martin / Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, Viera Marušiaková, Marián Pecko: Madman’s Diary
- 1995 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Felix Belo, Iveta Škripková: A Little Night Party
- 1995 / Teatr Lalka, Warsaw, Poland / Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol
- 1996 / Slovak National Uprising Theatre, Martin / Dobroslav Chrobák, Iveta Škripková: Dragon Is Coming Back
- 1996 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko, and the collective of the theatre: Not Last and Not Least VIII Master Flea
- 1996 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: How Vagrant Nicholas Became Saint Nicholas
- 1996 / Andrej Bagar Theatre, Nitra / Federico García Lorca: Yerma
- 1996 / Białostocki Teatr Lalek, Białystok, Poland / Edmond Rostand: Cyrano de Bergerac
- 1997 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Little Red Riding Hood
- 1997 / Andrej Bagar Theatre, Nitra / Nina Sadur: Miss
- 1997 / Puppet Theatre Ostrava, Czech Republic / Adolf Wenig, Iveta Škripková: The Devil and Kate
- 1997 / Białostocki Teatr Lalek, Białystok, Poland / Iveta Škripková: Forgotten History, or One Evening With Mrs…
- 1998 / City Theatre Žilina / Charles Dickens, Iveta Škripková: Mr. Scrooge
- 1998 / Teatr Lalka, Warsaw, Poland / Ján Werich, Iveta Škripková: The Three Veterans
- 1998 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Gingerbread House
- 1998 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Christmas Play ’98
- 1998 / Puppet Theatre Ostrava, Czech Republic / Marie Voříšková, Iveta Škripková: Lavuta – the Singing Violin
- 1999 / Andrej Bagar Theatre, Nitra / Edward Albee: Three Tall Women
- 1999 / Trnava Theatre / Milo Urban: Beta, Where Are You?
- 1999 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Marián Pecko: Christmas 1999!
- 2000 / Andrej Bagar Theatre, Nitra / Iveta Škripková: Sleeping Beauty
- 2000 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Forget-Me-Not
- 2000 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková, Marián Pecko: The Shaman Women I
- 2000 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Christmas in Dominica
- 2001 / Akademia Teatralna, Białystok, Poland / Maurice Meaterlinck: The Blind
- 2001 / Klicper Theatre Hradec Králové, Czech Republic / Robinson Jeffers, Zora Vondráčková, Marián Pecko: The Loving Shepherdess
- 2001 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Julius Meinholm: Don’t Cry, Anna
- 2001 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / collective of the theatre: Christmas Performance
- 2001 / Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland / Charles Dickens: Mr. Scrooge
- 2001 / Białostocki Teatr Lalek, Białystok, Poland / Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm: Sleeping Beauty
- 2002 / State Opera Banská Bystrica / Carl Maria von Weber: The Marksman
- 2002 / Alexander Duchnovič Theatre, Prešov / William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- 2002 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Marián Pecko: Christmas Play 2/2002 – Magical Theatre Automaton
- 2003 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Marián Pecko: The Lady With an Umbrella
- 2003 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / Jean Giraudoux: Ondine
- 2003 / Klicper Theatre Hradec Králové, Czech Republic / Federico García Lorca: The House of Bernarda Alba
- 2004 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Jozef Hollý: Kubo
- 2004 / City Theatre Žilina / Ivan Stodola: The Shepherd’s Wife
- 2004 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Lewis Carrol, Halina Sikorová: Alice in Wonderland
- 2004 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Marián Pecko: Christmas 2004
- 2004 / Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland / Jan Ośnica: Beauty and the Beast
- 2005 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Jonathan Swift, Iveta Škripková: Gulliver’s Travels
- 2005 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Charles Dickens: Mr. Scrooge
- 2006 / City Theatre Žilina / Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux: The Dispute
- 2006 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Marián Pecko: Christmas Happiness
- 2006 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre, Prešov / Federico García Lorca: Lorciad
- 2006 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / František Hrubín, Martin Fahrner: Romance for a Flugelhorn
- 2006 / Białostocki Teatr Lalek, Białystok, Poland / Thomas Bernhard: Theatremaker
- 2007 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Michal Ditte: Restart: Frankenstein
- 2007 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Hans Christian Andersen, Marián Pecko: A Christmas Story With Mr. Andersen – The Little Match Girl
- 2007 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / Howard Barker: Victory
- 2007 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Jean Giraudoux: Ondine
- 2007 / Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland / Hans Christian Andersen: The Snow Queen
- 2008 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Josef Čapek, Iveta Škripková: All About Doggie and Pussycat
- 2008 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / Jindřich Janda, Emil Lotjanu, Pavel Vrba: Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven
- 2008 / Puppet Theatre Ostrava, Czech Republic / Ernest Bryll, Katarzyna Gärtnerová: Painted On Glass
- 2008 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Monika Milewska: Stories of the Famous Rodrigo
- 2009 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / a team of authors: Sarcophagi and ATMs
- 2009 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Witold Gombrowicz: Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy
- 2010 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre, Prešov / Molière: The Miser
- 2010 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Ulrich Hub: Three Penguins and the Flood, or Meet the Ark at Eight
- 2010 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Franz Kafka, Marián Pecko: Metamorphosis
- 2010 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, Marián Pecko: Madman’s Diary
- 2010 / Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland / Jonathan Swift: Gulliver’s Travels
- 2011 / Summer Shakespeare Festival, Bratislava / William Shakespeare: Richard III
- 2011 / Puppet Theatre Ostrava, Czech Republic / Israel Horovitz: Lebensraum
- 2011 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Julius Meinholm: Don’t Cry, Anna
- 2011 / Olsztyński Teatr Lalek, Olsztyn, Poland / Ulrich Hub: Meet the Ark at Eight
- 2012 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Little Tatras
- 2012 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- 2012 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Marta Gruśniowska: Bon Appetite, Wolf!
- 2012 / Teatr Powszechny im. Jana Kochanowskiego, Radom, Poland / Josef Čapek, Emília Hoffmanová: All About Doggie and Pussycat
- 2012 / Teatr Lalka, Warsaw, Poland / Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann: A Mysterious Child
- 2012 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Josef Čapek, Emília Hoffmanová: All About Doggie and Pussycat
- 2013 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre, Prešov / Iveta Škripková: Seňora
- 2013 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Nostalgia
- 2013 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Malina Prześluga: The Light
- 2013 / Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland / William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- 2013 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Marián Pecko: Dear Mr. Chrabollini, and Other Curiosities
- 2014 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre, Prešov / Ladislav Grosman, Iveta Škripková: The Shop on Main Street
- 2014 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Monika Kováčová, Marián Pecko: The Stars Are Silent
- 2014 / Białostocki Teatr Lalek, Białystok, Poland / Marta Guśniowska: An Angel, a Giraffe and a Table, or about (Non)Sense
- 2014 / Teatr im. Ludwika Solskiego, Tarnów, Poland / Molière: The Miser
- 2014 / Teatr Animacji, Poznań, Poland / Malina Prześluga: Dragons
- 2015 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, Marián Pecko: Madman’s Diary
- 2015 / Puppet Theatre Ostrava, Czech Republic / Marta Gruśniowska: Good Appetite, Wolf
- 2015 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / Ulrich Hub: Penguins on the Ark
- 2015 / East Bohemian Theatre Pardubice, Czech Republic / Isaac Bashevis Singer, Jana Pithartová: The Magician of Lublin
- 2015 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Michael Ende, Iveta Škripková: Ophelia’s Shadow Theatre
- 2015 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Ulrich Hub: Meet the Ark at Eight
- 2016 / Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland / Marta Guśniowska: Bon Appetite, Wolf
- 2016 / Teatr Lalek Guliwer, Varšava, Poland / Marta Guśniowska: Journey on Fourteen Paws
- 2017 / Slovak Chamber Theatre, Martin / Svetlana Alexievich: War’s Unwomanly Face
- 2017 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre, Prešov / Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, Miro Dacho: Eugene Onegin
- 2017 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Issac Bashevis Singer, Menachem Kipnis: Jewish Tale
- 2017 / Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland / based on the motifs of Alexey Tolstoy’s fairy tale The Golden Key, or Buratino’s Extraordinary Adventures: Buratino
- 2017 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Iveta Škripková: Europe in Correspondence
- 2018 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre, Prešov / Iveta Horváthová: Dumb Queens
- 2018 / Moravian Theatre, Olomouc, Czech Republic / Romain Rolland, Ivan Taller, Jana Pithartová, Marián Pecko: Pierre and Luce
- 2018 / Puppet Theatre, Ostrava, Czech Republic / Daniela Jirmanová: Long, Broad and Quickeye
- 2018 / East Bohemian Theatre, Pardubice, Czech Republic / Carlo Gozzi: The King Stag
- 2018 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Alina Nelega: Amalia Takes a Deep Breath
- 2019 / City Theatre of Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, Bratislava / Anton Pavlovich Chekhov: Uncle Vanya
- 2019 / Slovak Chamber Theatre, Martin / Iveta Horváthová: Island
- 2019 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Jill Tomlinson: The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
- 2019 / Andrej Bagar Theatre, Nitra / Savyon Liebrecht: The Banality of Love
- 2020 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Jakob Streit: About a Boy Who Swapped His Hat for Chocolate
- 2020 / Puppet Theatre, Žilina / Martin Kukučín, Marián Pecko: Unawakened
- 2020 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Jozef Mokoš: The Game
- 2021 / Puppet Theatre on the Crossroads, Banská Bystrica / Michal Havran, Iveta Horváthová, Laco Kerata, Juraj Tabaček: Theatre at the End of the World
- 2021 / Moravian Theatre, Olomouc, Czech Republic / Charles Dickens, Iveta Škripková: Mr. Scrooge
- 1994 / Annual Prize of the Slovak Literary Fund in the field of puppet theatre direction
- 1998 / Annual Prize of the Slovak Literary Fund for the direction of Taverna Magica and The Death of Don Quixote
- 2001 / the Golden Mask Award given by the Silesian Duchy (Poland) for best productions of the year; awarded for the direction of Mr. Scrooge (Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland)
- 2002 / Annual Prize of the Slovak Literary Fund for the direction of The Shaman Women
- 2004 / the Hašterica Award for a work of art in the field of Slovak puppet theatre; awarded for the production Kubo
- 2004 / Annual Prize of the Slovak Literary Fund for the direction of Kubo
- 2005 / Annual Prize of the Slovak Literary Fund for the direction of The Shepherd’s Wife
- 2006 / the “Atest” award (Highest Artistic Level and Quality Prize) for the creators of the production Beauty and the Beast (Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland)
- 2006 / the Golden Mask Award given by the Silesian Duchy (Poland) for best productions of the year; awarded for the direction of Mr. Scrooge (Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki, Opole, Poland)
- 2008 / Award of the Festival of Central European Theatres in Lublin (III. Festiwal Teatrów Europy Środkowej Sąsiedzi – Perła Sąsiadów) for the production Kubo
- 2010 / Henryk Jurkowski Award for a work of art created by an artist from a V4 country; awarded for Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy produced at Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki
- 2010 / the Golden Mask Award given by the Silesian Duchy (Poland) for best productions of the year; awarded for the direction of Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy (Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki)
- 2010 / Special Prize awarded at the 24th International Festival of Puppet Theatre in Bielsko-Biała (Międzynarodowy Festiwal Sztuki Lalkarskiej) for Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy produced at Opolski Teatr Lalki i Aktora im. Alojzego Smolki
- 2011 / Annual Prize of the Slovak Literary Fund for the direction of Metamorphosis
- 2012 / the “Atest” award (Highest Artistic Level and Quality Prize) for the production Meet the Ark at Eight (Olsztyński Teatr Lalek, Olsztyn, Poland)
- 2012 / Main Award of the 16th International KORCZAK Festival in Warsaw (Międzynarodowy Festiwal Teatrów dla Dzieci i Młodzieży KORCZAK) for the production A Mysterious Child (Teatr Lalka, Warsaw, Poland)
- 2012 / the “Atest” award (Highest Artistic Level and Quality Prize) for the production A Mysterious Child (Teatr Lalka, Warsaw, Poland)
- 2014 / the Golden Mask Award given by the Silesian Duchy (Poland) for best productions of the year; awarded for the direction of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Teatr Lalek Banialuka im. Jerzego Zitzmana, Bielsko-Biała, Poland)
- 2014 / Annual Prize of the Slovak Literary Fund for the direction of Nostalgia
- 2017 / Grand Prix of the 2017 Nová dráma/New Drama festival, and the Bratislava Audience Award for War’s Unwomanly Face
- 2017 / nominated for the DOSKY Award in the Extraordinary Drama Production category, for the production War’s Unwomanly Face
- 2017 / Special Prize of the Association for Contemporary Theatre for Iveta Škripková and Marián Pecko for the concept of the festival Puppet Bystrica Tour 2016
- 2017 / Tatrabanka Foundation Prize for Art in the Theatre category for the direction of War’s Unwomanly Face