MY CULTURAL INTERESTS
When we say the word „culture“ or „cultural life“ we mean going to the cinema, to the theatre, dancing, or just staying at home and listening to the radio, watching television or reading books. However, cultural life in Milevsko is not so rich as in large cities.
CINEMA. There is only one cinema here which offer film shows twice a day all the year round. The repertory of the cinema is not specialised, the films do not have a long run and they change mostly every three or four days. In the past it was necessary to book the tickets for a performance in advance because the cinemas were often packed and the tickets were sold out. But the time has changed and people have less free time and are lazier to leave their homes. They prefer watching television or video to going to the cinema. That’s why we can nowadays get the tickets straight away at the cinema, about ten minutes before the performance. I don’t go to the cinema very often, but before I decide to go to the cinema, I choose the film very carefully, although I like nearly all of the genres. I like comedies and sci-fi films the most. I also choose the films according to the actors and directors of the films. From the foreigner actors I like David Tennant, John Barrowman and Neil Patrick Harris. I do not like seeing film based on a story after I have read the story because then I am usually disappointed by the film. I prefer English or American films which are not dubbed but provided only with subtitles because it is a good opportunity for me to test my knowledge of English language.
THEATRE. Milevsko has no permanent theatre building, so when theatre companies come to give a performance here they act on the stage of our cultural house. If we want to see theatre performances, we usually go to Tábor or to Prague. The last theatre performance I have seen was the musical „The Lady of the Camellias“ in Prague in the theatre „Ta Fantastika“. I like going to the theatre because I like the atmosphere of the theatre. I usually attend some comedies or musicals and I do not like operas and ballets. My favourite theatre company is the theatre of Jára Cimrman because their plays are written with very kind and intelligent humour, so I know nearly all their plays.
DANCING LESSONS. I said that in the cultural house perform time by time a theatre company, but there are also dancing lessons and balls held. Few years ago I took dancing lessons there, too. We learned both standard dances, such as the polka, waltz, foxtrot or tango and Latin American ones such as the jive, rumba and cha cha. I think I wasn‘t very good dancer that time but now I think, that I am better, because I occasionally go dance to a ball.
MUSIC. I would like to say something about music, too. I really like music and I was playing piano for 8 years and guitar for four years but now I play it never more, because I had no time for it. But I like listening to the music and going to the concerts and festivals. The last concert I was in was Die Happy concert in Prague in October. I like almost every music genre, except brass music and techno.
PRAGUE SPRING FESTIVAL. I don’t listen to classical music very often but there is a well-known music festival of classical music in Prague named Prague Spring Festival. Prague Spring Festival is an international music festival which is held in Smetana-Hall. The first festival took place after the World War II, in 1946, because of the idea of promoting the broadest possible understanding among nations – for musician an international language that can be understood by all. It is a tradition. Festival is open with Smetana’s „My country“ on May 12th, the anniversary of Smetana’s death. It includes a competition for young artists – chance to take part in a big international competition. It lasts about a month and always closes with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES. In our town there is also a possibility to attend a museum. It is is situated in the monastery. The public can go to see about six occasional exhibitions every year. There is also a gallery in the Old Townhall No. 1. It is named Gallery M, but I don’t go there very often.
I think that although our town is relatively small, there is a lot of cultural events. Also – I’m satisfied.