Natália Deáková

Natália Deáková is a prominent Slovak theatre and radio director who has long been active on both the Czech and Slovak cultural scenes and ranks among the key figures shaping contemporary drama. She studied directing at DAMU in Prague, graduating with the Dean’s Award, and has drawn attention since the beginning of her career for her bold choice of themes, strong focus on actors, and clear contemporary voice. She has served as artistic director of the Drama Studio in Ústí nad Labem, later worked as a director for Czech Radio, and was also the artistic director of the drama ensemble at the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Plzeň. Deáková has directed dozens of productions at leading theatres, including Divadlo na Vinohradech, the National Theatre Brno, Klicper Theatre, Švandovo Theatre, Divadlo Letí, and many others. Her work is characterised by strong energy, a civil and accessible language, and the ability to address current social issues without unnecessary pathos. Critics describe her as a director who “successfully connects powerful storytelling with vivid acting and brings new audiences to the theatre.”