Jan Werich (Czech: [ˈjan ˈvÉ›rɪx]; 6 February 1905 â€" 31 October
1980) was a Czech actor, playwright and writer.Between 1916 and 1924,
Werich attended "reálné gymnasium" (equivalent to high school) in
KÅ™emencova Street in Prague (where his future partner, JiÅ™Ã
Voskovec, also studied). He studied law at the Charles University Law
School from 1924 to 1927, from which he made an early departure to
begin his artistic career and forge one of the most important
partnerships of his life.His collaboration with Jiřà Voskovec and
Jaroslav Ježek lasted for more than 10 years. Their partnership was a
platform for their numerous left-wing political satires. The trio's
work took inspiration from Dada, with its love of the absurd, a
reaction against bourgeois values and the horrors of World War I.In
the years leading up to World War II and the closure of Czechoslovak
theatres, Werich, Voskovec and Ježek were forced into exile in the
United States in 1938, where Voskovec and Ježek remained for the rest
of their lives. Werich returned to his homeland five years later, and
started a partnership with Miroslav HornÃÄ ek. He also worked with
famous puppeteer Jiřà Trnka to write modern fairy tales. With his
new partner Miroslav HornÃÄ ek at his side, he re-staged many of the
plays he had created with Voskovec in the 1930s but set them in the
political content specific to the time.
1980) was a Czech actor, playwright and writer.Between 1916 and 1924,
Werich attended "reálné gymnasium" (equivalent to high school) in
KÅ™emencova Street in Prague (where his future partner, JiÅ™Ã
Voskovec, also studied). He studied law at the Charles University Law
School from 1924 to 1927, from which he made an early departure to
begin his artistic career and forge one of the most important
partnerships of his life.His collaboration with Jiřà Voskovec and
Jaroslav Ježek lasted for more than 10 years. Their partnership was a
platform for their numerous left-wing political satires. The trio's
work took inspiration from Dada, with its love of the absurd, a
reaction against bourgeois values and the horrors of World War I.In
the years leading up to World War II and the closure of Czechoslovak
theatres, Werich, Voskovec and Ježek were forced into exile in the
United States in 1938, where Voskovec and Ježek remained for the rest
of their lives. Werich returned to his homeland five years later, and
started a partnership with Miroslav HornÃÄ ek. He also worked with
famous puppeteer Jiřà Trnka to write modern fairy tales. With his
new partner Miroslav HornÃÄ ek at his side, he re-staged many of the
plays he had created with Voskovec in the 1930s but set them in the
political content specific to the time.
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