Wenceslas Square: The Stage of Czech History
A square where, in 1918, the Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed for the first time. A place where, in February 1948, the communists announced their seizure of power. A historic site where Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against totalitarianism. The center of events that led to the fall of forty years of totalitarian rule in November 1989.
The Poesiomat at Wenceslas Square tells the story of this crucial place for the Czech nation. Listeners can enjoy twenty unique recordings connected to both history and the present. The Poesiomat narrates the story of one of the most significant places in Czech history through excerpts from short stories, historical reports, songs, and poems.
The Poesiomat offers the speech that proclaimed the Czechoslovak Republic in Wenceslas Square in 1918, an authentic recording of Klement Gottwald’s famous February 1948 speech starting with the words, "I have just returned from the Castle," the last words of Jan Palach, a speech by Václav Havel, and the first public performance of Marta Kubišová after twenty years of being banned from singing, in November 1989.
Alongside authentic recordings, the poetic speaker also recites poems by Vítězslav Nezval, Karel Šiktanc, and František Halas inspired by Wenceslas Square. It sings the St. Wenceslas Chorale and popular children's songs from the Semafor Theatre and tells a short story by Jaroslav Hašek. Director and journalist Josef Vomáčka shares insights on life in Wenceslas Square throughout the 20th century, while art historian Richard Biegel describes the architectural transformations of the square and surrounding streets from the time of Charles IV to the present.
The Poesiomat at Wenceslas Square was created thanks to financial support from the Prague City Council, which contributed 250,000 CZK, and the Prague 1 Municipal District, which provided 30,000 CZK.