Writer-performer Anna Kopacek brings her show EAT to Voila! Festival next month.
“We all know the story of Hansel and Gretel.
You know the one?
A girl, lost in the woods in her gingerbread pajamas, just trying to find her way back—to the candy house or home? To the reasons why her parents left her out in the woods? And why we seek control when life is filled with so many unknowns.
This experimental reimagining of Hansel and Gretel is haunting, funny, and physically inventive—a journey through memory, desire, and the impossible game of trying to control the chaos of family and love.”
Where: Barons Court Theatre
When: 13-15 Nov
Ticket link: https://www.voilafestival.co.uk/events/eat/
Anna tells us more about EAT.
Tell me a bit about your show. Where did the idea come from?
The idea for EAT has been cooking in my brain ever since I first created a scratch version during my MA at RADA.
It was originally imagined as a duo piece with my partner – now ex – so it’s fitting (and maybe even poetic) that it’s come full circle as a solo show.
EAT is an autobiographical performance that reimagines the world of Hansel & Gretel and the Candy House.
I’ve always loved fairytale – their darkness, their beauty, and the strange truths hidden in their imagery. It felt natural to anchor my own experiences with body and family within that rich, symbolic landscape.
The show is an exploration – and excavation – of the fairytales we tell ourselves to make sense of the things we rarely say out loud.
Blending clown, puppetry, bread, and original music composed by Hanna Mulak, EAT is a surreal, darkly comic journey through hunger, love, and self-understanding.
Why should audiences choose your show? How would you sell it in one sentence?
Come for the bread. Stay for the breakdown. EAT is funny, strange, and just the right amount of unhinged — a fairytale feast for anyone who’s ever loved, eaten, or cried at the dinner table.
What does being part of the Voila! Festival mean to you?
Being part of the VOILÀ! Festival means joining a community of daring, international artists who are pushing the boundaries of theatre.
I came to London to grow as a creator, meet new voices, and connect with people who are passionate about expanding what performance can be.
This festival is such an exciting space – the range of artistry and stories is incredible, and I honestly wish I could see every show.
Creating theatre is such a labour of love, and to share that love with artists from around the world feels like a dream. I feel like a kid in a candy shop!
How did you make a start in the industry?
I started in this industry when I was eight, taking my first improv class in Ottawa, Canada. I fell in love with the joy and playfulness at the heart of performance, and I’ve never looked back.
After working for several years in Toronto as an actress for both stage and screen, I moved to the UK to pursue my Master’s at RADA, where I began shaping my voice as a theatre maker.
I’m a Czech-Canadian actress, writer, clown, and theatre deviser whose work blends clown, improvisation and post-Grotowski techniques to tell stories that are deeply personal, grotesque, strange, and unapologetically honest.
What’s next for the show?
EAT is currently in development, and what audiences see at VOILÀ! is its first full iteration. I’m eager to gather feedback to help shape its next stage.
My goal is to secure a residency, build a creative team, and continue developing the piece for a London tour – and, hopefully, to eventually bring it home to Canada.