Get ready, Prague! A theatrical fire is about to ignite the city’s stage, and you have a front-row seat. Esteemed director Evren Odcikin is bringing his visionary touch to the European premiere of Lauren M. Gunderson’s Muse of Fire at the Prague Shakespeare Company. This isn’t just another play; it’s a rare theatrical event that promises to be one of the most talked-about performances of the season. If you hesitate, you’ll miss it.
Evren Odcikin is a formidable force in theatre. As a queer, Turkish-American immigrant, his work is infused with a unique depth and perspective that challenges and moves audiences. Known for his heart-centered and politically charged productions, Odcikin has helmed acclaimed shows from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to the American Repertory Theater. His direction isn’t just about telling a story; it’s about creating an immersive experience that resonates long after the curtain falls. Now, he’s bringing that exceptional talent to Prague, and it’s an opportunity you cannot afford to pass up.
Forget the stuffy, historical figures you learned about in school. Lauren M. Gunderson’s Muse of Fire throws you directly into the passionate, tumultuous, and deeply human relationship between William Shakespeare and his brilliant wife, Anne Hathaway. Set at the end of Shakespeare’s career, the play is an electrifying two- person exploration of love, sacrifice, ambition, and the searing creative flame that both fueled and threatened to consume them. It’s a story of genius and the woman who stood beside it, a powerful drama that is both intimate and epic.
What makes this production an absolute must-see? The playwright herself, Lauren M. Gunderson, will be starring as Anne Hathaway opposite Casey Murphy as William Shakespeare. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the writer embody her own character, bringing an unparalleled level of authenticity and passion to the role under Odcikin’s masterful direction.
We sat down with Mr. Odcikin to discuss arts leadership, work, Muse of Fire, directing the writer and star Lauren M. Gunderson and the magic of Prague.
As the director, you are the architect of the audience’s experience. Muse of Fire explores the hidden, intimate world behind a historical giant. What will the audience experience – a reverent, historical drama, or have you built something more visceral, modern, and immediate?
Evren Odcikin: What Muse of Fire does so well is to humanize Shakespeare. We take him off the pedestal and look at him as a living, breathing, flawed human being. His wife, Anne, is an oft-misunderstood figure and we’re also very committed to challenging our assumptions about her in unexpected, humorous, and moving ways. I’ve had a long-term obsession with Shakespeare’s work, and I’m certainly bringing that love and reverence to my work on this piece. Shakespeare lovers will have so much to love about Muse of Fire, but so will Shakespeare newbies because we’re taking great care to make sure that the core questions and the emotional journey of the play is accessible to all. The script is contemporary in its language and perspective, so I do expect our workshop production to be decisively modern — it will be fast, fun, and impactful.
You’re in the fascinating position of directing a play where the author is also your lead actress. How does that unique dynamic change the rehearsal process?
EO: The rehearsal process for this play has been incredibly unique. In a lot of ways, having Lauren act in the play has supercharged the development of the script. She’s creating from the inside, and we are able to build on our work together across multiple workshops to continue to deepen the writing and her performance. The process has been so fruitful that we’re working to document it as we go, so that we can share with the field what we’ve learned from this uniquely collaborative way of working.
You’ve directed plays all over the world. Now you’re in Prague, a city of alchemists, ancient stones, and haunting beauty. What elements of this city’s unique atmosphere are you most excited to experience personally during your visit and also weave into the show to create an unforgettable experience for the audience?
EO: This is my first time in Prague, and I couldn’t be more excited to immerse myself in the city’s famous artistic oeuvre. I love the idea of working on a play that is reimagining a historical figure through a modern lens in a city that embodies that intersection of modernity and history. Having been born and raised in Istanbul (another one of those mythical cities with millennia of historical legacy), I have a feeling that I will find that deeply inspiring. On top of that, Prague Shakespeare Company is providing us with such thoughtful support to expand our exploration of this play’s world. I am looking forward to this next stage of development where we can start playing with movement, intimacy, and design.
This play is about the fiery, complex partnership behind a creative genius. When the lights come up at the end of the performance, what do you want to have struck every member of the audience? What question about love, art, and sacrifice do you hope is echoing in their minds?
EO: The play is a beautiful exploration of the cost of creativity. It’s easy to think of making art as magic, but impactful artistic work is built by immense craft, commitment, and sacrifice. And that sacrifice isn’t just for the person creating, but all those who love and support them. I also think it’s impactful to have a decades- long marriage on stage. William and Anne are smart, funny, sexy, opinionated, but they are not young. The play carries the weight of a lifetime of love and loss, joy and pain. That depth of experience they share cracks open the hearts of the audience in a specific way. What I have found beautiful about the response we’ve received to the play along its many stops is how folks from all walks of life feel reflected in the struggles of this very specific couple from a very specific time and place.
Beyond your work on individual productions, you are an influential arts leader, notably at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In a rapidly changing cultural landscape, what do you believe is the primary responsibility of a theatre, and as an artistic leader how do you champion new voices and stories while also honoring a classical legacy? How does your work as an arts leader and advocate for inclusive theatre inform your process as a director in the rehearsal room?
EO: One of the many things that drew me to Oregon Shakespeare Festival was their commitment to classical work alongside the development of new plays. Within that programmatic conversation, new works hold classics accountable to the truths and values of today, while classics pressure new works to aim higher and be more ambitious. That juxtaposition of old and new can be transformative for artists and audiences.
It’s important to remember that Shakespeare’s work was new work once. He was a working, populist artist who created groundbreaking work that spoke to his day. He borrowed from history, reimagined it, and created a new type of theater with political curiosity and bravery. So I feel strongly that when we produce or direct his plays, the productions must live in and speak to current realities.
For me, the conversation of inclusivity and diversity is one of artistic rigor and excellence. Some of the most interesting and important artists working today are coming from historically-excluded communities. So it’s my job to figure out how to get them in the rooms I lead because that’s how I advocate for high-quality artistic work. I’m the son of two teachers, so I’ve been raised to be a service-oriented leader. And I’m an engineer by training, so I think structurally. So the question I always wrestle with is how can this organization or this rehearsal room be set up structurally to allow the most number of people to thrive and do their best work on any given day. This kind of structural thinking has served me well in making good change.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 October, 2025 – Prague, Czech Republic
America’s Most-Produced Playwright, Lauren M. Gunderson, Makes European Stage Debut in the Premiere of Her New Play, MUSE OF FIRE, at Prague Shakespeare Company
PRAGUE, CZ – October 1, 2025 – Prague Shakespeare Company (PSC) is proud to announce the European premiere of MUSE OF FIRE, a powerful and intimate new play by Lauren M. Gunderson, one of America’s most celebrated and produced living playwrights. In a rare theatrical event, Ms. Gunderson will also make her European stage debut, starring in the production. Performances will run from October 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2025, at Divadlo Na Pradle.
Directed by the acclaimed Evren Odcikin, MUSE OF FIRE is an intimate two-person play that dives into the life and love of William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, at the volatile moment of his retirement from London. The play explores the searing emotional and creative fuel behind the world’s greatest writer, grappling with the sacrifices and joys of a life dedicated to the stage. Starring opposite Gunderson as William Shakespeare is Casey Murphy.
“To host the European premiere of a new work from a playwright of Lauren’s stature is an honor in itse,” said Guy Roberts, Artistic Director of Prague Shakespeare Company. “To have her and the visionary director Evren Odcikin here in Prague, with Lauren herself taking the stage, is a once-in-a-lifetime event for our company and our audiences. This production is a testament to the power of new writing and the timeless stories that connect us across centuries.”
Lauren Gunderson adds, “I must thank Guy and Jessica at Prague Shakespeare Company for their belief in the power and timeliness of this play. It has meant the world to have their support and encouragement as we take big risks to tell this story. I’m so grateful that we get to tell it with them in the gorgeous, compelling city of Prague.”
Following each performance, audiences are invited to a Talk-Back with the artists, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with the creators of this exciting new work.
Additionally Lauren M. Gunderson and Evren Odcikin will be conducting a special three-day workshop on Writing and Creating New Plays from 14-16 October with PSC at Divadlo Na Pradle. Details may be found on the PSC website link below.
Exclusive Artist Workshop
In addition to the performances, PSC will host an exclusive three-day creative summit, Playwriting & Creating New Plays, from October 14-16, 2025. Led by Lauren M. Gunderson and Evren Odcikin, this workshop offers a limited number of writers, directors, and actors an unprecedented opportunity for direct mentorship with two of contemporary theatre’s most vital voices. The workshop culminates in a professional New Work Showcase in November. For more information visit: https://pragueshakespeare.com/lauren-m- gunderson-playwriting-creating-developing-new-plays-writing-workshop.html and contact Guy Roberts at guy@pragueshakespeare.org
About the Artists
LAUREN M. GUNDERSON (Playwright & Actor) has been one of the most-produced playwrights in America since 2015. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and a winner of the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in Theatre Award. Her works, including I and You, The Book of Will, and The Revolutionists, are published and produced at major theatres across the globe. She is also the book writer for several musicals, including The Time Traveller’s Wife with Dave Stewart and Joss Stone.
EVREN ODCIKIN (Director) is an award-winning Turkish-American director, writer, and arts leader. He recently served as the Interim Artistic Director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of America’s largest and most prestigious theatres. His work has been seen at renowned institutions such as Soho Rep (a New York Times Critic’s Pick), Berkeley Rep, Woolly Mammoth, and Golden Thread. He is a recipient of the TITAN Award from Theatre Bay Area and was an inaugural National Director’s Fellow.
Listing Information
WHAT: MUSE OF FIRE – European Premiere
WHO: Written by Lauren M. Gunderson, Directed by Evren Odcikin Starring Lauren M. Gunderson and Casey Murphy Presented by Prague Shakespeare Company
WHEN: October 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2025, at 19:00 (7:00 PM)
WHERE: Divadlo Na Pradle, Besední 3, 118 00 Malá Strana, Prague 1
TICKETS: 400CZK General Admission / 200CZK Students & Seniors. Tickets are available now athttps://goout.net/en/muse-of-fire/szxuray/
More Information at:
https://pragueshakespeare.com/lauren-m-gundersons-muse-of-fire-european-premiere.html
About Prague Shakespeare Company
The Prague Shakespeare Company (PSC) presents professional theatre productions, workshops, classes, lectures and other theatrical events of the highest quality, conducted primarily in English by a diverse multinational ensemble of professional theatre artists, with an emphasis on the plays of William Shakespeare. The Prague Shakespeare Company brings to Czech, European and international audiences performances that are fresh, bold, imaginative, thought-provoking, and eminently accessible, connecting the truths of the past with the challenges and possibilities of today.
Media Contact:
Guy Roberts, Artistic Director
guy@pragueshakespeare.org
+420 603 968 536