“Visual storytelling through arcane folk arts.”
This is an archived resource for Joanna Hruby’s artistic projects up until the year 2015. She has now relocated from South West England to the island of Ibiza, Spain, where she has founded Theatre of the Ancients, and creates visual, mythic performance inspired by the folklore, history and traditional culture of Ibiza.
Joanna Hruby is a visual artist, puppet-maker, performer and writer. With a BA (Hons) first class degree in Puppetry from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, she works in diverse puppetry and visual theatre mediums in order to tell stories through accessible, unusual and enchanting ways. She has been an intern with the Bread and Puppet Theater in Vermont, USA, as well as the Great Small Works toy theater festival in Brooklyn, New York. She has also studied with Martin Shaw’s School of Myth in Dartmoor, Devon.
Joanna’s work draws inspiration from folk arts, folk theatre, folk ceremonies, rituals and practices from around the world. She has spent over a decade researching unusual and arcane craft methods for transforming natural, reclaimed and found materials into animated objects, and is devoted to the pursuit of craft as an act which is both creative and political. Her work makes reference to the patterns, structures and symbolism found within the world of myth, story and folktale.
Having spent three years based creatively and professionally in the city of Plymouth, South West England, Joanna relocated to the island of Ibiza in Spain in 2015, where she founded her company, Theatre of the Ancients. She is now using visual theatre, storytelling and myth to address the ecologically and culturally damaging effects of mass tourism and globalisation on the island.
Joanna Hruby 
just saw the four of swords production of gawain and the green knight! Your green knight puppet was amazing!!! I had no idea what to expect, my eyes went huge like saucers when it came through the door, i loved it! It reminded me of the dark crystal which i love! Thank you! It was great! X
Thank you so much Janine! I’m really thrilled you liked it so much to track down my website! I must point out that Philip Kingslan John of Four of Swords Theatre did most of the incredible details of the puppet – the glowing eyes, the costume etc. – I mostly helped him to make the structure and figure out how to operate the puppet. I was amazed when I saw the finished green knight myself…and I loved the whole show. Thanks again for sharing your appreciation!