On Monday, Slovakia was shocked by the news that five actors, including Táňa Pauhofová (42), were fired from the Slovak National Theatre. The official reason for the resignations is consolidation, but the actors say that it is not a question of savings and that it is an attempt to break up an ensemble that is critical of the theater management and the Ministry of Culture.
Cuts in SND, which also affected well-known names, divided society into two camps. One defended the actors and compared the situation to communist practices, but the other did not see it the same way. Pauhof’s death also affected her friend and colleague Dorota Nvotová (43), who has known her for decades. Together, the couple experienced recitations in Dolny Kubín, children’s sleepovers, a cigar after school or a summer in the Mountain Park. Nvotová sent Pauhof a public message.
“One thing I remember very clearly. You were always the caretaker. Therefore, let it be an honor for you that this uncultured management fired you together with other brave colleagues. Let it be an honor for you to be on the blacklist of the rulers who will go down in history as the most toxic and corrupt normalizers. May it serve to your honor that you are becoming a flagship of artistic and human pride, of intelligent resistance to this dictatorial outfit, that you are the opposite of its botox and fur coats, that you are our light,” the politician wrote for and continued.
“They sawed a branch under them and are unknowingly dancing wildly on it. You did the right thing by offering your place. I can already hear the branch cracking under them. I know you won’t be short of work. And you are not alone with your colleagues. In Slovakia, we have dozens of experts fired from cultural institutions, who, unfortunately, will travel elsewhere and it is not known whether they will return again under a favorable situation. It is the loss of all of us. The consequence of our choice,” she added.
According to Nvotová, it is difficult to find an area that has undergone similar destruction since the current government took over as culture. And until the government saves on expenses for themselves, the actors – the voice of a large part of society – had to go. He also believes that it is clear to everyone that there is no saving, because according to fairness it would have to proceed differently.
“Not even your statue of the Czech Lion or Poláčik’s Tablets saved you from the claws of that vengeful monster. And there is no one to protect us anymore either. Slowly but surely we have no one to look up to, the light at the end of the tunnel is fading. There is a small chance. That in that black-black darkness we will collide so hard that we will recover. And nothing similar to what is here now will never get a chance. Thank you for your sacrifice. We will do everything so that it is not in vain,” she concluded.
Pauhofová also commented on the whole case on Tuesday evening, where she described that in this situation, he considers his decision correct, as he has been on parental leave for the past 3 years and currently has only one performance in the theater’s repertoire. According to her words, she considered it absurd that someone who is currently fully employed and defends his position every night with his work on SND boards should lose his seat.
“Many colleagues offered their places in order to prevent the collapse of the game plan, so that those colleagues would not be endangered, for whom – even if only for a short time – the absence in the ensemble would mean an existential problem. In the end, a consensus was reached with the SND leadership only on my behalf: I myself offered my place so that our extremely busy young colleague would not have to leave.” she clarified.
SND press secretary Izabela Pažitková for emphasizes that the government regulation, as well as the budget approved by the National Assembly of the Slovak Republic, i.e. not only the Ministry of Culture, also results in savings on labor costs across all areas, including culture.
“Thus, the redundancies affect all ministries and all state institutions. SND is facing this challenge just like other institutions and is canceling almost ten percent of positions in total. It should be emphasized that this concerns all departments of the Slovak National Theater – that means Ballet, Opera, Drama, Art and Decoration Workshops, as well as the administration,” she said, adding that the SND considers this matter internal and media coverage on the part of the actors as purposeful.
The management’s steps were also sanctified by their legal department. “All personnel measures have been discussed with individual heads of departments, as well as five trade unions, and they are taking place in accordance with the Labor Code and legislative rules,” added the secretary.
Temporary head of the institution Zuzana Ťapáková rejects words about purges. “Nothing dramatic happens. Five actors go from internal to external status. The theater laid off 795 employees from all areas and departments, including drama. Unlike the other dismissed actors, the actors will have external contracts and continue to play, and the audience will not be deprived,” Ťapáková told Koktejl.sk. She refused to be specific according to which key they issued notices from internal contracts in the SND personnel department.
