Radio Play Mother of God, Banish Putin Receives Special Jury Recognition at Prix Europa 2025
The radio play Mother of God, Banish Putin, a production of Czech Radio, received special jury recognition at the prestigious international festival Prix Europa 2025 in the Audio Fiction category. Inspired by Pussy Riot’s 2012 performance in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the bold sound composition captivated audiences and critics alike. Following a rigorous preselection and competitive final, it was honored at the awards ceremony in Berlin on October 10, 2025.
The original radio composition Mother of God, Banish Putin revisits the artistic intervention of young women who drew attention to the dangerous intertwining of the Orthodox Church’s patriarchy with Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime. Playwright and director Jiří Adámek Austerlitz took the performers’ intention seriously, capturing the essence of their punk prayer in the sacred space of the cathedral. He brought together three delicate female voices that, through a flowing mixture of litanies, statements, quotations, and songs, posed the question once more: why does Russian society cling to a dictatorial regime and tolerate its aggression?
The performers Vendula Holičková, Kateřina Císařová, and Bára Mišíková, along with the musicians of the Brno Contemporary Orchestra under conductor Pavel Šnajdr, perfectly embody both the authorial and directorial vision. The musical and sonic identity of the work was created by Ladislav Železný, a long-time collaborator of Adámek Austerlitz on most of his radio projects.
“I am immensely happy. I attended the listening session and the discussion and was pleasantly surprised by the lively and intense reactions from many people and jury members. Given the high level of competition, I didn’t expect more than confirmation that the play works internationally. Receiving a direct award, however, is a huge joy – a real celebration,” said playwright and director Jiří Adámek Austerlitz.
Renata Venclová, dramaturge of the work, added: “In the case of Mother of God, Banish Putin by Jiří Adámek Austerlitz, we are dealing with a very specific sound composition that demands a lot from the listener. That it resonated so strongly on the international stage is therefore a great joy. This recognition is, of course, for the author and director, the three performers, the collaborating musicians, and the sound designer Ladislav Železný – but also for Czech Radio, which supported and made the creation of the piece possible, especially in the context of the anniversary of the war in Ukraine.”
René Zavoral, Director General of Czech Radio, commented: “Receiving special recognition for the radio play Mother of God, Banish Putin at one of the most prestigious radio festivals, in such competitive conditions, is a major success for Czech Radio. I am delighted that our institution’s creative efforts have been acknowledged on an international stage, reflecting our long-standing commitment to nurturing artistic creativity.”
The play premiered on Czech Radio Vltava as part of its regular Evening Drama series.