Our brain moves quicker than a nun’s first curry. So here is the report for Trpaslicon 2024. We are already looking forward to Trpaslicon 2025 🙂
Trpaslicon 2024: Future Echoes
Trpaslicon, the festival of British humour, sci-fi and fantasy, has once again proved that it is an event that no fan in the Czech Republic should miss. The twenty-first edition, this time themed around the episode “Future Echoes”, took place on the weekend of 8-10 March 2024 in Prague, Chodov, and was scientifically confirmed as the best Trpaslicon ever. In addition, the ship’s computer recorded the speed of light being exceeded, so some lucky people experienced the future before it actually happened.
What is a Trpaslicon anyway?
Trpaslicon is a unique festival taking place in the Czech Republic that has been attracting fans of British humour, sci-fi and fantasy since its beginning in 2003. Originally a modest gathering of fans of the Red Dwarf series, it has grown into an event that hosts hundreds of visitors from the Czech Republic every year. Although it is held in a primary school building, this is what gives it its unique atmosphere – a return to school days, but this time with slippers and a flood of British humour.
A look back.
My journey with Trpaslicon began in 2003 when I found out about the festival through the http://www.cervenytrpaslik.cz website. Unfortunately, I found out about the first edition two weeks later, but the following year I got involved in the organisation and from 2004 I was running around Trpaslicon as an “Bum”. Since then, the festival has grown, moved to a new school, and today no one can do without slippers and a sleeping bag.
In addition to screening episodes, we have always strived for a varied programme with interesting guests. Writters and Czech dubbers became an integral part of the festival, as well as scientific lectures and guests from the field of science fiction and fantasy.
First impressions of a newcomer
As a long-time administrator of the Facebook group Červený trpaslík – Hláškuj a bav se, I finally arrived at my first Trpaslicon. And I have to say: why the hell did I wait so long?!
While the festival doesn’t offer the usual con delights, such as beer in hand, it does throw you back to your school days. Plus, there’s a huge love of the show and British culture. The decorations, themed activities and imaginative games like durex volleyball with pair of tights across the room or the legendary World Stare Out Championship all add to the festival’s unmistakable atmosphere.
Programme.
The Trpaslicon programme is a mixture of panels, workshops and games inspired not only by Red Dwarf but also other British series such as Doctor Who, Monty Python and Blackadder. Visitors were able to participate in panel discussions, scientific presentations, quizzes and costume contests.
Presentations covered everything from historical facts and DVD bonus features to in-depth analyses of individual episodes. Fans were able to enjoy a Kahoot quiz on Dwarf, discussions with dubbers, as well as in-game tournaments or watching a montage of deleted scenes. To top it all off, the local Luigi’s Fish ‘n’ Chip Emporium offered specialties like “squeezed rolls” and “liquid nitrogen.”
The evening programme culminated with a discussion with Czech dubbers of the Red Dwarf series and a screening of the episode Promised Land, which was a great end to a busy day.
Conclusion.
When Trpaslicon 2024 was over, we were all clear – we must come again next year. The panels, games, discussions and Dwarf talk that lurked from literally every corner of the Trpaslicon were something worth experiencing. And yes, if you’re asking, a Trpaslicon t-shirt is my new favorite piece of wardrobe!
