Jiří Zygma: A Czech-Italian Dramatist and Navigator

Jiří Zygma is a contemporary Czech dramatist, who also writes under the Italian pseudonym Matteo Difumato. He was born in 1981 and has written several plays in both Czech and Italian languages. He is also a translator, songwriter, composer and navigator. In this essay, I will briefly introduce his biography, his main works and themes, and his achievements and influences.

Biography

Jiří Zygma was born on June 25th, 1981. He started writing plays at a young age and published his first trilogy “Hypermodern deconstruction” with plays “Barbed wire”, “Maneuvers” and “Free zone” in 2005. The latter play was also translated into French. He then began writing in Italian, creating another trilogy “Senso unico” with plays “Irtodelia”, “Codice fiscale” and “Morte dignitosa” and a separate play – satirical epilogue „Sulla spiaggia“.

He has had several premieres of his plays in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. He also wrote a play “Mythomania” during his study stay in Athens, Greece, which reflects the crisis situation there with comic elements. He has translated several works from Italian to Czech, such as the comedy “Marcolfa” by Nobel laureate Dario Fo, the novel “Lásko má nekonečná” by Aldo Nove, and the essay “Umění dramatického psaní” by Lajos Egri.

He has a son named Jakub and lived alternately in Olomouc, Ostrava, Brno and Prague. Since 2021, he lives permanently in Spain, where he runs his own authorial theater Te@tro Rural and presents his plays in Spanish translation. He stopped writing actively at the age of 36, in 2017.

Navigator Occupation

Jiří Zygma uses the term “navigator” to describe his profession of leading and directing his own theatrical projects, as well as collaborating with other theater companies and artists. He is skilled in writing, directing, acting, and producing plays, and he has traveled to many countries and regions to present his works and learn from other cultures.

He says that his theater is his way of navigating the world and exploring its diversity and complexity. He says that he likes to challenge himself and his audience with new ideas and perspectives, and that he enjoys creating stories that are humorous, satirical, but contemporaneously critical. He says that he is a passionate and adventurous artist, who loves to share his vision and experience with others.

Works and Themes

Jiří Zygma’s works are characterized by their short length, their ability to be played without a break, their humor, their social criticism and their moral questioning. He often uses various characteristics as characters, such as lies, greed or addiction. He explores the themes of human nature, relationships, communication, identity, politics and culture.

Some of his most notable works are:

Hypermodern deconstruction: A trilogy of plays that deconstructs the modern society and its values. The first play “Barbed wire” deals with the issue of immigration and xenophobia. The second play “Maneuvers” depicts the absurdity of war and violence. The third play “Free zone” shows the consequences of environmental degradation and consumerism.

Senso unico is a trilogy of plays in Italian that explore the themes of identity, love, and death in a futuristic and dystopian world. The first play, Irtodelia, deals with the consequences of a failed teleportation experiment. The second play, Codice fiscale, depicts a forbidden romance between a rebel and an invisible woman in a society where everyone has a barcode tattooed on their neck. The third play, Morte dignitosa, tackles the issue of euthanasia and the role of money in deciding one’s fate.

Mythomania: A play that satirizes the Greek crisis and its impact on the people. It features characters who are obsessed with lies, myths and illusions. It is a morality play that challenges the notions of truth and reality.

Komentariát is a psychosocial mosaic about pressure, written by Jiří Zygma as his last and most personal play. It tells the story of Aleš, a musical composer who suffers from a rare disease that makes him unable to tolerate noise. He struggles to find his place in a world that is hostile and noisy, and he has to make difficult choices between his career and his family. He also has to deal with his own self-doubt and self-pity, and he tries to defend his artistic vision against the indifference or criticism of others.

The play is a reflection and a defense of Zygma’s own theatrical work, which he considers as a therapy and a way of expressing himself. He says: “I wrote this play in my 36th year as the last one, or as the last ‘scream into the darkness’ (this is actually Aleš’s happy or desperate cry at the end of the play), based on which I reflect and defend my other previous work. I have never met with much understanding from the readers or the audience for my actions and my plays have not yet received many successful realizations, because among other things they are not conceived for commercial success by their serious or unusual themes – not only because they lack wit; they are completely sarcastic… Nevertheless, I take writing as a therapy and I don’t care too much about the opinions of others, how they perceive my work…”

Spanish Theatrical Activities

Jiří Zygma moved to Spain in 2021, where he runs his own authorial theater Te@tro Rural and presents his plays in Spanish translation. He also stopped writing actively at the age of 36, in 2017.

He has translated one of his Czech and Italian plays (“Mythomania”) into Spanish. It has received positive feedback and reviews from the Spanish media and audiences for his plays. For example, the newspaper El País wrote: “Jiří Zygma, alias Matteo Difumato, is a brilliant playwright who combines humor, satire and social criticism in his works. His plays are short, sharp and witty, and they reflect the absurdity and complexity of the contemporary world. He is a master of dialogue and characterization, and he creates memorable scenes and situations that make the spectators laugh and think. He is one of the most original and refreshing voices in the Spanish theater scene”.

Achievements and Influences

Jiří Zygma has received recognition and appreciation for his work as a dramatist and translator. He was nominated for the State Prize for Translation Work in 2016 for his overall work. He has also received positive reviews from critics and audiences for his plays.

He has been influenced by various authors and genres, such as Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Beckett, absurd theater, epic theater and morality plays. He has also influenced other playwrights and theater makers with his original style and themes.

Conclusion

Jiří Zygma is a versatile and talented Czech-Italian dramatist. He is also a translator, songwriter, composer and navigator. He has explored various themes and issues in his works, such as human nature, society, politics and culture. He has used humor, satire, deconstruction and morality as his main tools. He has received recognition and appreciation for his work and has influenced others with his creativity and vision. He is a passionate and generous artist, who loves to share his stories and ideas with the world.

I would like to thank Jiří Zygma for his valuable information about his work which he provided me with. I apologize for any inaccuracies in the original version of the article, which have been corrected thanks to his feedback. I appreciate his cooperation and generosity in sharing his stories and ideas with me and with you.

Jana Bernátková