Kafka’s Letter to His Father

U.S. premiere of Kafka's Letter to His Father, a contemporary opera adapted from Franz Kafka's iconic letter.

Adapted from Franz Kafka’s searing letter to his father, this critically acclaimed opera transforms one of the 20th century’s most powerful literary documents into a gripping theatrical experience exploring authority, vulnerability, and identity. As the inaugural opera of Far Away, Here, CAP UCLA’s new international opera initiative, Kafka’s Letter to His Father directed by Shayna Penn launches a program dedicated to contemporary works that expand the possibilities of opera across cultures, disciplines and forms.

Kafka’s Letter to His Father premiered May 2, 2024, at the National Theater in Prague. The intimate opera explores a childhood marked by fear of an overpowering father and a struggle to conform to rigid ideals of masculinity. Through literary creation, Kafka finds a path toward freedom, escaping paternal authority through the act of writing.

The libretto uses minimalist language to transform Kafka’s monological letter into direct interactions, revealing a nonlinear arc from helplessness to liberation. Musically, the opera layers ambient electronics, synthesizers and acoustic instruments, with Kafka’s tenor voice, performed by Timur, set against a six-member baritone-bass choir representing the Father and a soprano voice representing the Mother, conducted by Fahad Siadat.

About Far Away, Here: Kafka's Letter to His Father is the inaugural production of Far Away, Here, CAP UCLA's new multi-year initiative presenting U.S. premieres of contemporary opera from Europe, Asia, and Latin America, curated by Timur Bekbosunov with Edgar Miramontes. Learn more.

Kafka’s Letter to His Father is a contemporary opera composed by Jiři Trtik, with a libretto by Jan Škrob, directed by Shayna Penn, conducted by Fahad Siadat, and produced by the Opera of Timur in collaboration with Brightwork Ensemble. The U.S. premiere will be presented by CAP UCLA at The Nimoy in Los Angeles from Thu, Nov 12–Sat, Nov 14, 2026.

Cast and creatives Composed by Jiři Trtik (Czech Republic)Libretto by Jan Škrob (Czech Republic)In collaboration with Brightwork Ensemble Produced by the Opera of Timur Conducted by Fahad Siadat Directed by Shayna Penn Kafka - TIMURMother - Molly PeaseFathers - TJ Sclafani, Kevin Allen, Lorenzo Zapata, Scott Graff, David Peterson, James Hayden

The original production was directed by Josef Doležal, designed by Maxim Velčovský and commissioned by Narodni Divadlo and the Ministry of Culture, Czech Republic.