John Malkovich returns to Prague to perform the play In the Solitude of Cotton Fields at the Hybernia Theatre on June 21 and 22, but the acclaimed American actor brings with him more than just a role. For Malkovich, Prague is not just a tour stop—it’s a place with personal resonance, one tied closely to memories of Václav Havel and decades of creative collaboration.
“I first went there in 1989 after we finished a film,” Malkovich recalled in an interview with Novinky.cz. “We traveled to Czechoslovakia to celebrate New Year’s and witness the inauguration of President Václav Havel. That remains one of the most moving and vivid memories of my life. It touched me deeply that the state was led by a real human being, not just a politician.”
John Malkovich’s ties to Prague
Malkovich has visited Czechia frequently over the years, both for work and personal inspiration. He has filmed in Prague multiple times and has been drawn to its architecture, culture, and theatrical spaces.
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.
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 the Czech capital as well as locations across the country.
“I’ve been back countless times. It’s a beautiful city. I filmed there many times,” he said. “When I was preparing The Libertine, which I was originally supposed to direct, I scouted locations in Prague. The historical theaters there were especially attractive to me.”
In 2009, Malkovich received the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where he also shared moments with late festival president Jiří Bartoška.
“I didn’t know Jiří Bartoška very well—only met him a few times—but many people I’m close to were deeply affected by his passing,” Malkovich said. “People who organize film festivals form a kind of small club. They know how hard it is. I think he had a remarkable acting career and didn’t see the festival as a burden.”
His personal connection to Czechia extends to those he works with. He mentioned his close friendship with Tatiana Detlofson, a Czech expert on international film promotion. “She was very sad about Bartoška’s death,” the actor said. “So were others in his circle.”
Malkovich on Václav Havel and enduring artistic ideals
Though Malkovich never saw a stage production of Havel’s plays, his respect for the late dissident-turned-president runs deep. “I never saw any of his plays performed, but I read their scripts. And I had a more personal connection,” he told Novinky.cz. “Even before I met him, I had read Letters to Olga and the letters people sent to Amnesty International urging his release from prison. I admired him greatly.”
His reverence for Havel also stems from a broader outlook on power and the role of artists. Malkovich described a line he once inserted into his stage piece Just Call Me God, in which he plays a dictator: “The only thing you know about power is that good people don’t seek it.” He added, “I’m not interested in power or submission. I don’t like being controlled by others, and I have no need to control anyone else—on Earth or in heaven.”
“Theater is a collective matter for me. That’s why I left Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre five years ago, after more than 40 years. It stopped being collective. Some people became employees fulfilling requirements, while others just coasted along. That’s not what theater should be.”
Malkovich also reflected on aging, artistic legacy, and the passage of time. “I’m 71 now. Life changes, and you change with it,” he said. “I’ve lost many colleagues. I’ll soon be one of them. When people from your generation start dying, it hits you—it’s your turn next.”
Despite such reflections, Malkovich remains creatively active. Over the past 20 years, he has focused on fusing theater with classical music—writing librettos, acting, and directing. “I don’t create these pieces just so I can perform in them. I focus on combining theater and classical music because so few creators work in that format.”
With the upcoming Prague performance, he continues that trajectory. In the Solitude of Cotton Fields, originally a male two-hander, now features Malkovich and actress Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė. Directed by Timofey Kulyabin, the piece explores negotiation, desire, and power dynamics—fitting themes for an actor who remains skeptical of authority and power.
In the Solitude of Cotton Fields will be performed by Malkovich and Dapkūnaitė for two nights in Prague later this week. A handful of tickets are still available for the show at Divadlo Hybernia on June 21 and 22.
Malkovich is the second actor to express admiration for Václav Havel in recent months. Sir Ian McKellen reflected on performing in front of Havel in Prague while promoting Hamlet to Czech audiences back in March.
Lead photo: John Malkovich at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival via Wikimedia Commons / Elena Ternovaja
