On Saturday, November 1, the Thalia Awards were presented in Prague for the 32nd time. which are awarded in the fields of drama, opera, musical, operetta, ballet or pantomime, while the artistic quality and excellence of the performance are evaluated in particular. The evening also includes the awarding of lifetime championship awards, which pay tribute to notable personalities. The whole event combines a tribute to the craft of acting with an elegant atmosphere and an emphasis on the tradition and cultural significance of theater art.
In addition to Slovak actress Zdena Studenková (71), which was awarded for lifetime championship, another Slovak also left the event with a prize. Martin Talaga won the Thália Award in the Alternative Theater category for his performance in the production PiNKBUS Slovak and none other.
“If you’re asking where that beautiful blonde is, then it’s me. I really thank the jury for noticing such an act. It’s not very often that drag is given a price, I don’t know if at all. So really thanks for all the queer art, I think it’s a big deal, especially in these times. Thank you to my entire family, especially my mom for endless years of support. And I also thank my second family, Pinkbus, Adriana and many others, for doing what we do, despite the circumstances,” he said in a speech on stage.
“And especially to the Slovak Pinkbus team and no other. And especially to my partner, who also contributed a lot to me standing here today. And thank you to all who have been here before us, thanks to whom we can. Because what we do with Pinkbus is not supported in many countries, in some places it is even prohibited or criminal. So we still have to somehow lead the fight for that free democracy. And I’m glad that Pinkbus and I could contribute a little to that,” he finished.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to the Actors’ Association, thank you to the family, thank you to PiNKBUS and thank you all for your support and congratulations. Standing on the same stage at least for a while with Zdena Studenkova made my world complete. I’m still processing what happened, I love you all with all my heart.” he added after the ceremony on .
Martin Talaga is a Slovak dancer, choreographer and performer who has been creating in Prague for a long time. As a drag queen in the PiNKBUS Slovak project and no other is styled as a blonde femme fatale, who in many aspects resembles the current Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Martina Šimkovičová.
In a role that requires a lot of courage, he moves and behaves spontaneously, all the while being sovereign and authentic. Depending on the situation, sometimes it adds to the eccentricity, other times it is ironic or teasing.
