Josef Skupa

Josef Alois Skupa was born on 16 January 1892 in Strakonice, into a family of a gendarme. His family also lived in Blovice and Chanovice, before moving to Plzeň, when Josef was five years old. He attended the primary school (Volksschule) in Mladějovice. In 1903–1906, he attended a high school in Plzeň. In 1911–1915, he studied at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. After he graduated, he returned to Plzeň and worked as a high school teacher of mathematics and drawing. He also collaborated with the Plzeň City Theatre as a stage designer.

Skupa performed his first puppet shows in Mladějovice as a child, when he was visiting his uncle. During his student years, he attended cabarets in Prague and performed in satirical cabaret improvisations himself. He wrote texts for Ferenc Futurista (then a sculpture student) and they modeled puppets for their joint performances. From 1917, he collaborated with the amateur puppet theatre of Feriální osady (charitable association). He gradually worked there as a stage designer, dramaturg, director and puppeteer. He most often performed with the traditional puppet of kašpárek (Kasperle). He quickly became a leading figure in the theatre.