GRUNT: A Chronicle of Folk Cruelty

GRUNT: A Chronicle of Folk Cruelty is a theatrical production by the Musaši Entertainment Company (MEC), which premiered on May 28, 2022 at Alfred Ve Dvoře in Prague. It is a surrealist stage image inspired by the Czech phenomenon of cottage restoration – after World War II, many abandoned German homesteads remained in the borderlands, which cottage enthusiasts rescued from destruction. The production draws on the dark history of the borderlands, the Šumava villages around Vimperk, and events from World War II recorded in local chronicles. The dramaturgy, set design, and direction are collective works of the ensemble. The performance runs 55 minutes without intermission. This revival takes place as part of a week-long showcase of MEC's work at Alfred Ve Dvoře (May 15–21, 2026), which traces the ensemble's development since its founding at KALD DAMU in 2020. Musaši Entertainment Company focuses on original theatre, audio production, woodcarving, musical instrument making, and other traditional crafts; founding members are Adam Páník and Tereza Havlová. In 2023, the ensemble received the talent of the year award at the …next wave… festival, and in 2025 represented the Czech puppet theatre tradition at the world EXPO in Osaka, Japan. Alfred Ve Dvoře operates on a pay-what-you-wish system – each spectator chooses the ticket price themselves. Tickets are not reserved seats; seating is open. The box office opens one hour before the performance begins.