Oscar-nominated actor John Malkovich will return to Prague next year to star in In the Solitude of Cotton Fields, a new stage production directed by Timofey Kulyabin. Malkovich will be joined by award-winning actress Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė for two performances at Prague’s Hybernia Theatre on June 21–22.
Malkovich’s latest appearance continues a long-standing relationship with the Czech Republic. In recent years, the actor has brought a series of acclaimed performances to Czech audiences, including the world premiere of The Infamous Ramirez Hoffman in Prague and a celebrated staging of The Music Critic at Kroměříž Castle.
A new staging of a modern classic
Originally written by French playwright Bernard-Marie Koltès, In the Solitude of Cotton Fields centers on an intense late-night encounter between a dealer and a customer. Their dangerous dialogue unfolds without ever making clear what is being bought or sold, exploring complex themes of desire, power, and human need.
Kulyabin, known for his provocative interpretations, places societal taboos and human longing at the heart of this new production. The play will be performed in English, with Malkovich and Dapkūnaitė navigating shifting roles in a tense, atmospheric staging that promises to challenge and enthrall audiences.
The Prague performances are co-produced by Dailes Teatris Latvia and other European partners, and supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Before stopping in Prague, the performance will be staged for three nights in Berlin (June 9-11) and two in Düsseldorf (June 17-18).
The production will run for approximately 70 minutes without intermission. Tickets are available now through the event’s official website as well as local vendors.
Malkovich’s latest trip to Czechia
Malkovich newest performances mark return to the Czech Republic following a number of past visits. In 2022, he premiered The Infamous Ramirez Hoffman in Prague, a solo show based on Roberto Bolaño’s writing. That project followed a critically praised performance of The Music Critic in Kroměříž the same year, which castle officials hailed as the highlight of their cultural season.
The actor had previously performed The Infernal Comedy on stage at the Prague Spring music festival in 2011. His hotel room in the city center was robbed during that trip, and the actor lost several thousand crowns in cash and needed to have new documents issued. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to bear a grudge against the city.
Two years earlier, Malkovich had been awarded a Crystal Globe for outstanding contribution to world cinema at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Malkovich also starred in the 2017 thriller Unlocked, which was largely shot in Prague, as well as 1999’s The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, which was filmed in Czech capital as well as on locations across the country. The actor also worked with Czech director Miloš Forman on the 1989 historical drama Valmont, which was filmed in France.
With In the Solitude of Cotton Fields, Malkovich once again brings his distinctive presence and talent to Czech stages, reaffirming a unique connection with local audiences.
Lead photo: Facebook / In the Solitude of Cotton Fields
