1) Baru, we haven’t seen each other in a long time – how are you doing and how often do you actually visit the passages these days?
A new year has started, so I still have a bit of a New Year’s mood. I have just finished the New Year’s Eve premiere of Charley’s Aunt at the Divadlo Bez Hranic, and after a two-week break, I started rehearsing at the theater again – this time The Garden Party by Václav Havel. So my life continues to revolve around theater. But I still visit the passages often, especially the U Nováků Passage, which houses the Prague City Theatres ABC and Rokoko. And actually, it is also connected to my beloved Lucerna, especially Cinema Lucerna.
2) Entering here today, I feel like things are constantly changing. What is it like for you to return here as the patron of the U Nováků Passage?
Passages are always a place of surprises. “What used to be is gone, and there is something new you have to see before it disappears.” I think that sentence could be their motto. The element of surprise can be pleasant, but also sadder when something I liked disappears. I feel that transformation happens most in the passages, and every time, it surprises me with something. That is life in a passage.
3) Let’s reminisce a bit – how did you first get into acting or performing in the passages?
The U Nováků Passage is very close to my heart as an actress because it houses wonderful theaters – ABC and Rokoko. As a child, I used to go to Theater ABC with my parents to see wonderful performances with great acting personalities. I myself got an engagement right after school at the Divadlo Komedie, which is just a short walk away in the Vlasta Burian Passage. So you could say I played “in a passage.” And then, of course, there is the famous film Láska z pasáže (Love from the Passage). I certainly experienced some “passage love” of my own with my partner – mostly right in or around the U Nováků Passage, near Lucerna, the cinema, the Great Hall, and the Lucerna Music Bar.
4) What did you enjoy most about the passages back then – the atmosphere, the people, or that special bustle between the shops?
What I enjoy most in the passages is that precise hustle and bustle around the small shops and cozy cafés. In winter, it is warmer in the passage, and in summer, it is cooler, so one is happy to stop by. I often set up meetings there, and only then do we decide where to sit down.
5) Do you have a story from the passages that has stuck in your mind and always amuses or touches you?
My stories from the passages are mostly connected to Lucerna. For example, with my high school graduation prom – my boyfriend and I walked out of the hall into the passage, and standing there, we took stock of the whole evening. Unforgettable for me are also the Czech Lion awards evenings, which used to take place across the entire passage. The passage was closed off, and one big party took place there. It was magical and enchanting – hundreds of guests from the film world in beautiful evening gowns and tuxedos. Those were exceptional and unforgettable moments.
6) When we were last here, there was Selfie Coffee, Lada’s shop… and now they are gone. How do you perceive these rapid transformations?
I have already spoken about the frequent changes – they are not always for the better. Selfie Coffee was really nice, an original café with the idea of putting your own photo on top of the coffee. It was an attraction and an experience I enjoyed. Likewise, Lada’s shop fit into the passage like a glove – I couldn’t find a better comparison. I am truly sorry about that. And years ago, during my teenage years, there was the Jarmark restaurant in the U Nováků Passage. I loved that place – it was full of life, aromas, and tastes; there was a buzz and a variety of colors, scents, drinks, and food prepared right in front of you. A great idea and always packed back then. It’s a pity that it’s gone too.
7) What do you think makes a passage a passage, even if the shops change and the space is constantly being transformed?
A passage will remain a passage even after transformation. It can just be cheerful and playful, or somewhat sad and empty. I feel sorry that right now, the U Nováků Passage is rather sadder and emptier. Only the theater brings it to life in the evening. It would take reopening interesting little shops and pleasant cafés. And the famous Varieté U Nováků would also deserve a revival.
8) What does being the patron of the U Nováků Passage mean to you?
It is an honor for me to be the patron of the U Nováků Passage, which has a rich history and incredible stories within its walls from the variety show, theaters, cinema, the Great Hall of Lucerna, as well as small and large establishments. At the moment, I take my role more symbolically, but if an opportunity for active collaboration arose, I would certainly welcome it with joy. I look forward to future ideas.
9) If you could bring one event or project to the passage that you would personally enjoy, what would it be?
I am a very creative person and I enjoy coming up with projects, sometimes even crazy ideas. If I had a free hand, I would definitely be tempted. It would most likely involve a connection between theater, film, and fashion – that fits this passage perfectly. Perhaps a large fashion show featuring leading Czech designers alongside great theater and film actresses and actors. Maybe it will happen one day.
10) And now on a somewhat personal note – what has made you happy recently, and whatBára Fišerová – patron of the U Nováků Passage
Bára Fišerová is one of the prominent personalities of the Czech cultural scene. An actress, presenter, and voice actress known to audiences from theatre, television, and radio, she has a gift for bringing energy and lightness into every project she embarks on. Her voice resonates in many popular films and series, she appears as natural on stage as in front of the camera, and she moves through presenting with confidence.
After some time, we meet again directly in her “home” space to talk about what’s new with her, how she remembers her beginnings in the passages, how she perceives their current transformations, and what she is planning for the future.
1) Baru, we haven’t seen each other in a long time – how are you, and how often do you actually visit the passages these days?
The new year has started, so I still feel a bit like it’s the turn of the year. I have the New Year’s Eve premiere of Charley’s Aunt at the Divadlo Bez Hranic behind me, and after a two-week break, I started rehearsing at the theatre again – this time The Garden Party by Václav Havel. So my life continues to revolve around theatre. However, I still visit passages often, especially the U Nováků Passage, which houses the Prague City Theatres ABC and Rokoko. And it is actually connected with my beloved Lucerna, especially Cinema Lucerna.
2) Coming in here today, I feel like something is always changing. What does it feel like for you to return here as the patron of the U Nováků Passage?
Passages are still a place of surprises. “What used to be is no more, and here is something new you have to see before it vanishes.” I think that sentence could be their motto. The element of surprise can be pleasant, but also a bit sad when something I loved disappears. I feel that transformation happens the most in passages, and every time, it surprises me with something. That is life in a passage.
3) Let’s reminisce a bit – how did you actually first get into acting or performing in the passages?
The U Nováků Passage is very close to my heart as an actress because great theatres – ABC and Rokoko – are located inside it. As a child, I used to go to the ABC Theatre with my parents to see wonderful performances with great acting personalities. After school, I got an engagement at the Komedie Theatre, which is just a short distance away in the Vlasta Burian Passage. So you could say I played “in a passage.” And then, of course, there is the famous film Love from the Passage (Láska z pasáže). I certainly experienced some “passage love” of my own with my partner back then – most of all right in the U Nováků Passage or near it, around Lucerna, the cinema, the Great Hall, and Lucerna Music Bar.
4) What did you enjoy most about the passages back then – the atmosphere, the people, or that special hustle and bustle between the shops?
What I enjoy most about the passages is precisely that hustle and bustle around small shops and cozy cafés. In winter, it is warmer in the passage, and in summer, it is cooler, so one is happy to stop by. I often schedule meetups there, and only then do we decide where we will go sit down.
5) Do you have a story from the passages that stuck in your mind and always amuses or touches you?
My stories from the passages are mostly connected with Lucerna. For instance, with my high school prom – my boyfriend and I walked out of the hall into the passage, and standing there, we took stock of the whole evening. Unforgettable for me are also the Czech Lion award nights, which used to take place across the entire passage. The passage would close, and one big party took place there. It was magical and enchanting – hundreds of guests from the film world in beautiful evening gowns and tuxedos. Those were exceptional and unforgettable moments.
6) Last time we were here, there was Selfie Coffee, Lada’s Shop… and now they are gone. How do you perceive these rapid transformations?
I have already mentioned frequent transformations – they are not always for the better. Selfie Coffee was really nice, an original café with the idea of putting your own photo on your coffee. It was an attraction and an experience I enjoyed. Likewise, Lada’s Shop, which fit into the passage “like a glove” – I couldn’t find a better comparison. I’m truly sorry about that one. And back in my teenage years, there was the Jarmark restaurant in the U Nováků Passage. I loved that place – it was full of life, aromas, tastes, buzzing activity, and a variety of colors, scents, drinks, and food prepared right in front of you. A great concept, and back then, it was always packed. What a shame that it’s gone too.
7) In your opinion, what makes a passage a passage, even when shops change and the space is constantly transformed?
A passage remains a passage even after a transformation. It can just be cheerful and playful, or a bit sad and empty. I feel sorry that right now the U Nováků Passage is rather sadder and emptier. Only the theatre brings it back to life in the evening. It would take opening interesting small shops and pleasant cafés again. And the famous Varieté U Nováků would also deserve to be revived.
8) What does being the patron of the U Nováků Passage mean to you?
It is an honor for me to be the patron of the U Nováků Passage, which has a rich history and unbelievable stories within its walls from variety shows, theatres, the cinema, the Great Hall of Lucerna, as well as small and large businesses. Currently, I view my role rather symbolically, but if an opportunity for active collaboration arose, I would certainly welcome it with joy. I look forward to future ideas.
9) If you could bring one event or project to the passage that you would personally enjoy, what would it be?
I am a very creative person, and I enjoy coming up with projects, sometimes even crazy ideas. If I had a free hand, it would definitely entice me. It would probably involve connecting theatre, film, and fashion – that fits this passage wonderfully. Perhaps a large fashion show featuring prominent Czech designers together with great theatre and film actors and actresses. Maybe one day it will work out.
10) And now on a somewhat personal note – what has brought you joy recently, and what are you looking forward to?
Recently, I was pleased by new projects we have started. Following the success of Charley’s Aunt at Divadlo Bez Hranic, it’s the rehearsals for The Garden Party – I really like Václav Havel, and it will be an honor for me to perform in one of his plays. Furthermore, I filmed the first episodes of my new television show on A11 about theatre, titled Applause for… And I am looking forward immensely to the film spring and autumn, when I am scheduled to shoot two beautiful movies. Apart from that, I believe in and look forward to whatever this year brings me both professionally and personally.
