Show Trial

by Laura Zlatos

Charged with espionage and high treason, Milada Horáková stands trial against the communist regime in one of the largest show trials in Eastern Europe. Using transcripts from the 1950 proceedings, Show Trial satirizes Stalin-era show trials, dramatizes the propaganda machine in communist Czechoslovakia, and settles the centuries-long debate about how to style a mustache.

Charged with espionage and high treason, Milada Horáková stands trial against the communist regime in one of the largest show trials in Eastern Europe. Using transcripts from the 1950 proceedings, Show Trial satirizes Stalin-era show trials, dramatizes the propaganda machine in communist Czechoslovakia, and settles the centuries-long debate about how to style a mustache.

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Show Trial

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Show Trial by Laura Zlatos
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced SHOW TRIAL as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We saw the potential of this play as the writer was in control of a balance of the various manifestations of comedy, farce, and satire. We appreciated the stylistic choices to reframe a historical event, and the structure, form and pacing are well-handled. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced SHOW TRIAL as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We saw the potential of this play as the writer was in control of a balance of the various manifestations of comedy, farce, and satire. We appreciated the stylistic choices to reframe a historical event, and the structure, form and pacing are well-handled. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

    ”
  • Kate Busselle: Show Trial by Laura Zlatos
    “

    WOW! This play is unequivocally the best absurdist satire I have ever read. The play is brilliantly constructed to the point where the reader truly does not know what is actual transcript from the trial and what is pure farce. A powerhouse vehicle for multiple women (including a women/non-binary Stalin!).

    WOW! This play is unequivocally the best absurdist satire I have ever read. The play is brilliantly constructed to the point where the reader truly does not know what is actual transcript from the trial and what is pure farce. A powerhouse vehicle for multiple women (including a women/non-binary Stalin!).

    ”

Character Information

Stalin should be payed by a woman or nonbinary actor. The ideal cast size is 9-12. I suggest the following doubling with 9 actors: Františka/Stalin, Bohuslav/Commentator, and Zuzka/Jana/Girl.
  • Milada Horákova
    The accused
    48
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Bohuslav Horák
    Milada’s husband
    40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Jana Horákova
    Milada’s daughter
    16
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Františka Plamínková
    Feminist activist and politician
    50s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Karel Trudák
    Chairman of the judicial senate
    30s-40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Josef Urválek
    Prosecutor
    40
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Ludmila Brožová
    Public prosecutor
    29
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Antonín Havelka
    Public prosecutor
    30s-40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Juraj Vieska
    Prosecutor
    37
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Joseph Stalin
    Soviet dictator
    69
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Zuzka
    Milada's colleague
    20s-40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Girl
    Schoolgirl
    13
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Commentator
    20s-40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, Divadlo Bez zábradlí and Prague Shakespeare Company, 2023
  • Reading, Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company, 2022

Awards

  • Action Grant
    Humanities New York
    Winner
    2022