The first ballet premiere of the season—marking the 80th anniversary of the founding and very first premiere of the National Theatre in Košice—will be a unique stage adaptation of perhaps the most famous fairy tale by Pavol Dobšinský, The Son of Poor Parents, directed and choreographed by Ondrej Šoth.
“We owe a great deal to children, and that is why we are opening the season with a premiere dedicated especially to them. I believe this performance will attract not only children but also their parents, because Dobšinský’s fairy tale is a story full of courage and overcoming obstacles, where kindness, good behaviour, and a willingness to help lead to victory,” says Ondrej Šoth, author of the production and General Director of the National Theatre Košice.
According to Šimon Stariňák, Director of the Ballet of the National Theatre Košice, when a fairy tale turns into dance, a world where anything is possible awakens before our eyes. “Dobšinský’s fairy tales are a treasury of stories that awaken the child within us, whether we are five or fifty. The Son of Poor Parents is a story of courage, of the desire to go beyond one’s limits, and of the strength born from imagination and goodness. In our ballet fairy tale, we want children to be carried away into a magical world where anything can happen, and adults to rediscover the forgotten magic of childhood. I believe our premiere will bring audiences not only a beautiful artistic experience, but also a smile, a sense of adventure, and a touch of wonder to take home with them.”
This poetic performance, on a stage designed by Pavol Juráš and with costumes by Ľudmila Várossová, awakens joy and hope in the hearts of its audience. The entire multinational ballet ensemble will perform—an ensemble that has often shown its deep connection to themes rooted in Slovakia and traditional Slovak culture.
In this dance adaptation of Dobšinský’s fairy tale, the title role of Michal will be danced by Italian Principal Dancer and Artistic Director Gennaro Sorbino, alternating with Polish soloist Tomasz Siedlecki. In the roles of Trieska, Mother, and Father, audiences will see Šimon Stariňák, Ukrainian dancers Oleksander Tishchenko, Tetiana Lubska, Khrystyna Deineha, and soloists Igor Pashko and Sergii Iegorov. Other roles will be performed by dancers from Japan, Norway, Italy, Mexico, and Cuba.
Audiences can see this new ballet fairy tale already at the preview on 2 October 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Historical Building of the National Theatre Košice. The first and second premieres will follow at the same time on Friday, 3 October, and Saturday, 4 October 2025.
