Czech Black Light Theatre HILT Dazzles Central America

Prague/Guatemala City, April 1, 2023 – The Czech theatre HILT, a renowned black light theatre troupe from Prague, has captivated audiences in Central America with a sold-out performance at the Teatro Nacional in Guatemala City on March 28, 2023. The theatre, an iconic venue capable of seating 2,000 patrons, was packed as the Czech company presented its signature brand of visual storytelling.

Teatro Nacional Guatemala - HILT black light theatre tour

This triumph marks yet another international success for the legendary Czech black light theatre genre. Amongst a handful of such theatre companies in the Czech Republic, HILT black light theatre continues to shine on the world stage. Following their acclaimed performance at the World Theatre Olympics in India, their recent show in Guatemala’s largest theatre has solidified their reputation as world-class performers.

The tour, however, was not without its challenges. Strike action in Germany threatened to derail the troupe’s journey, as their connecting flight from Frankfurt to Houston, and subsequently to Guatemala, was jeopardized. Undeterred, the HILT team devised an alternative, though significantly more complex, route. They departed a day early for Vienna, then onto Amsterdam for an overnight stay, finally reaching Houston the following day. Unfortunately, even this diverted itinerary was plagued by delays, resulting in the company's late-night arrival in Guatemala.

Applause in Teatro Nacional Guatemala - HILT black light theatre tour

Despite the exhausting journey and luxurious welcome at their Guatemalan hotel, the HILT team had little time to rest. A few hours of sleep were all that stood between them and a demanding rehearsal schedule. The weight of representing the Czech Republic in Central America proved to be a powerful motivator, overcoming their fatigue.

From early morning, dozens of Guatemalan technicians, production staff, and assistants worked tirelessly to prepare the stage and technical elements for the evening's performance. With Spanish as the dominant language in Guatemala and the HILT team primarily speaking English, communication relied heavily on translators. "Thankfully, we had Christina and Christian backstage who spoke English and helped us!" noted a member of the Czech team.

The Czech contingent consisted of Štěpánka Pencová, Theodor Hoidekr, Adéla Doskočilová, Sophia Šilhánková, Hana Šámalová, František Penc, René Zounar, and Martin Mackovič. Their professionalism, combined with close friendships amongst the group, facilitated a smooth preparation process despite the challenges of a large and unfamiliar stage.

HILT black light theatre team before the tour flight

At the conclusion of the show, HILT was met with thunderous applause and deep respect from the audience and the entire Guatemalan production team.

The directors of HILT Prague commented: "We are even more convinced that our team is a group of perfect professionals, and we appreciate all of them, not just those who were able to travel to Central America with us. In theatre, it is important to have morale, respect, and to perfectly master your role. But that's not all. We must be friends and support for each other. Thanks to this, we, as a group of eight, amazed the audience in the largest theatre in Central America."