Martin Glaser

Theatre and opera director, playwright, and director of the National Theatre Brno and the festivals Janáček Brno and Theatre World (Divadelní svět) Brno. Martin Glaser is a graduate of the theatre faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU), where he studied directing and dramaturgy for dramatic theatre. His first production relied on a ‘generational’ theatre troupe he’d co-founded: On the Doorstep (Divadlo na prahu). In 1998, he joined the South Bohemian Theatre as in-house director; as of 2006, he acted as their artistic director for drama theatre, a role in which he focused on bringing the works of contemporary Czech and foreign playwrights to the stage. His original productions before the Revolving Auditorium of Český Krumlov’s open-air theatre drew enthusiastic responses from audiences. Since 2013, he has been the director of the National Theatre Brno, which comprises three permanent ensembles (ballet, opera, theatre) that perform on the stages of three exceptional buildings (Janáčkovo divadlo, Mahenovo divadlo, Reduta). The National Theatre Brno is also the producer of major festivals – Theatre World (Divadelní svět) Brno, which is centred around dramatic and physical theatre, and Janáček Brno, which curates the heritage of the outstanding eponymous composer. In 2018, the latter festival was crowned Best Festival of the Year at the prestigious International Opera Awards in London. Aside from his managerial duties, Mr. Glaser is keen to devote time to creative endeavours – in these, he increasingly often dons the hat of an opera director. The television recording of his staging of Janáček’s opera Jenůfa won the Czech Crystal award at last year’s Golden Prague Festival.