During two days in October, culture came directly to passengers and passers-by on seven railway stations in Trenčín region. Popular actor and native of Trenčín, Pavol Seriš performed in the premises of the stations in Trenčín, Trenčianská Teplá, Púchov, Považská Bystrica, Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Partizánske and Myjava. The event supporting Trenčín’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2026 aimed to show that culture might not be far from us and if the city is awarded the title, it will also have a positive impact on the cities of the Trenčín region.
Performances at train stations mirror the programme of Trenčín’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2026. ”Theatre at the stations show that culture is for everyone and can come closer to where people are. And, that the program of European Capital of Culture is not just about culture in the centre of Trenčín. On the contrary, it extends beyond it and connects Trenčín with the whole region,” explains Lucia Dubačová, project manager of Trenčín 2026.
The team of Trenčín 2026 believes that art should be present in the public spaces so the passers-by can become an audience.
“Hello, stop by if you have time, we have a theatre here,” spoke Seriš to passers-by during the performance.
He had chosen to play a part of his author’s comedy “At the cash desk” in which humorous situations from the supermarket are close to everyone.
The non-traditional environment brought non-traditional situations to performances. Some people came to see the show because they had already heard about it. One gentleman dressed fancy in a suit and another one in a wheelchair carrying coffee and chocolates as a gift for the actor and the crew. Some people just passed by, and others enjoyed the unexpected experience and stopped by to see the whole thing.
In Trenčianska Teplá, three classrooms of pupils came to watch, and they laughed together with their teachers. In Trenčín, the play was watched by spectators from several platforms. “It is like an Elizabethan Theatre in here,” commented Seriš, addressing the platforms as “boxes”.
“I am glad we brought a little theatre to places where it had probably never been before,” said actor Pavol Seriš after the tour and admitted: “I have played almost everywhere – in the meadow, in the pub, in the castle, under the castle, in the restaurant, but I had never played at the station before.”
The Trenčín 2026 team also believes that title will draw successful hometowners to Trenčín.. Actor Pavol Seriš started performing theatre during his studies at the Trenčín grammar school. Now he works mainly in the Czech Republic, where he collaborates with many theaters and teaches at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno. However, he always likes returning to his hometown, where his performances are very popular.
“I was born here, I graduated from primary and secondary school, I have parents and many friends here. I fully support Trenčín’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture. This extraordinary event would certainly bring many new impulses in the field of culture and tourism to Trenčín and to the whole region,” said the proud supported of Trenčín’s candidacy, Pavol Seriš.
Photo credits: Juraj Majerský, Martin Kovanič
