Noctum’s Experimental Ritual
Our recent performance at this year’s Prague Fetish Weekend (10. 10. 2025) emerged from a desire to delve into the raw, animalistic instincts that lie beneath human surface behaviors. Everything was born from brain & bodystorming sessions realized by Noctum and Miriama Kardošová. The concept was based on primal chaos, deconstruction of identity, and the struggle between control and liberation. It reflects an intense exploration of inner boundaries, insecurities, and the primal urge toward connection and destruction.
Who dived into the depths with us?
The project was realized through a collective effort led by Miriama Kardošová, involving Ondřej Kubeš and Tommy Košarišťan alias Lina. The music was conceived by Halv Drøm, who created the very new soundscape, produced specifically for this show, that amplified the mood of chaos, tension, and eventual dissolution.
We Became One Body
Show unfolded in five distinct phases:
Phase 1 – Introduction
The performers embody animals in a mystical, outsider world, awakening from a crouched state and forming a circle, bound by a latex belt symbolizing captivity and restraint. Fog and spotlights create an otherworldly atmosphere, emphasizing primal unity and initial tension.
„We move in a circle like animals ready to attack.”
Phase 2 – Interaction & Power
The characters challenged each other, breached personal space, and tore at costumes through knots and lacing, gradually revealing chaos. The struggle for dominance began, with visual symbols of power and restraint intensifying.
Phase 3 – Passion & Liberation
Tension erupted into passionate support, with performers helping each other shed layers of costumes, symbolizing emotional and physical deconstruction. The narrative shifted from conflict to collective release, with an emphasis on desire and rawness.
Phase 4 – Ritualistic Climax & Exhaustion
The performers reached a peak of intensity, stripped away almost all layers to arrive at base, minimal attire – leaving only some undergarments – culminating in a tangled, elevated tableau. Breathing and tiredness highlighted the physical and emotional toll, emphasizing the raw, imperfect human condition.
“The dance grew wild and ritualistic until exhaustion overtook us all, and silence settled over the space.”
Phase 5 – Reconnection & Rebirth
The movement shifted to primal emergence – like animals asserting themselves – gazed into the audience, piercing with raw energy. Finally, the performers came together, formed a unified, sculptural body that symbolized renewal, integration, and the ongoing cycle of chaos and harmony.
Mood Swings
The performance reflected the chaos inherent in primal instincts – animality overtaking consciousness, deconstruction of social and visual stereotypes, and embracing imperfection and raw emotion. It was an exploration of overcoming personal boundaries, trauma, and insecurity, expressed through intense physicality and symbolic visuals.
The entire performance was deeply rooted in the connections and bonds between the Noctum creatures, including the entire creation process and sound by Halv Drøm. This collaborative dynamic fostered a unique, almost zen-like bonding among the performers, elevating the show beyond individual expression to a collective experience of profound unity.
Custom-made Costumes
Costumes were designed to be highly experimental – structured, layered, and capable of deconstruction – highlighting anatomical details and emphasizing individuality within chaos. Latex, unconventional textures, and distressed finishes foster an organic, disturbing beauty, aligning with the overarching themes of imperfection and primal allure.
It was a collective journey into the wilderness of the self, intended not to entertain but to provoke the emotions. It challenged the audience to confront their own boundaries and instincts, illustrating that chaos and destruction are integral to self-discovery and renewal.
Big shout-out for the noctum_team:
CREATURES: Miriama Kardošová, Ondřej Kubeš and Tommy Košarišťan alias Lina
COSTUMES, PRODUCTION, CREATIVE DIRECTION: Noctum Studio
CHOREOGRAPHY & ART DIRECTION: Miriama Kardošová
ASSISTANCE: Ondřej Kubeš & Lina
SOUND: Halv Drøm
COPYWRITING: Štěpánka Zapata
PHOTO: Ondrej Rychnavský / Agience, Murhaaya (hellevents.cz)
