Lydka & Gamine
Lydka Ondrus is an actress who loves to create – on stage and beyond. She feels at home anywhere she can turn ideas into reality.
28. July 2025, Author: Barbara Garaj, Photo: Jakub Čaprnka
Back in high school, she already sensed her path would lead to theatre. At an eight-year gymnasium, she discovered she was most drawn to a world where stories are born directly on stage.
She's from Michalovce, where joining a drama circle wasn't easy, so she had to wait a bit for her first theatrical steps. A few years later, she signed up for one, and acting became a natural part of her life.
"When I was about 12, I remember we went from school to a performance at the municipal cultural center, and even then, as an audience member, it occurred to me: Why am I in the seats and not on stage? That's when I knew I wanted to perform. It was a very powerful moment for me."
At the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMÚ), she chose puppetry, but her curiosity didn't stop at acting. Visual art and the look of the stage fascinated her, so after finishing one degree, she dove into a second master's program at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VŠVU) – in Intermedia.
She was drawn to exploring how shapes, structures, or architecture can evoke emotion. She simply wanted to see theatre through the eyes of her scenographer friend.
After her first school in 2015, she felt like she'd lost solid ground and was searching for direction. She started her own YouTube channel where she shared funny videos, but it took a while to clear her thoughts and discover where she wanted to go next.
One day, Laura – a scenographer she knew from school – came to her with the idea of creating their own independent theatre. One thing led to another, and NUDE Theatre was born. Today it's writing its ninth season of original stories.
With their own theatre came the need to talk about themes that usually go unnoticed. NUDE dives into stories of motherhood, love, partnership, and the search for one's own identity. They're not afraid to open up taboo questions – about relationships, about what's real and what's just pretense, about our fears, expectations, and desires.
Among Lydka's favorite productions is Samson, a performance she created with her friend, director and performer Veronika, in 2013 – before the theatre even existed. It originally drew from Facebook statuses and explored the search for love.
Over time, though, it evolved along with their life experiences, and today it tells the story of two women's friendship. With each performance, it shifts in character and carries the fragility of fleeting theatre.
Lydka also recommends experiencing Rola, performed every year in May or June, when nature itself provides the scenery and the weather shapes the mood. It's performed right in a field and offers a view of the role our ancestors play in our lives.
Theatre isn't just about acting and creating productions. Behind every performance lies logistics, plenty of preparation, and the worry of whether there will be enough money for a new work.
As an independent authorial theatre, they apply for two grants each year – one helps them launch a new production, and the other covers costs for reprises, props, and social media activities.
"Authorial theatre brings a large dose of uncertainty. We often don't have a script written in advance, and many things are variable. We don't have much money available, and we're dealing with space. So we try to choose people for productions with whom we have good relationships. We always look for humble people who believe in our work and our process."
Lydka always likes to find time for friends and new encounters. Among her various activities, though, she missed working with her hands, so she came up with the idea of starting a knitting and crocheting circle. She didn't expect so many women to join – they now form a community called Pokojné ihlice (Peaceful Needles). They meet at her home, work on their projects, talk about life, and there's always the aroma of freshly baked treats.
Besides theatre, Lydka also does creative writing and regularly contributes columns to the fashion magazine Eva. Sometimes she likes a slower pace and appreciates moments of solitude.
Her relationship with fashion goes back to childhood, to her grandmother and great-grandmother, who taught her that elegance isn't about expensive pieces but about how things harmonize together. She still loves wearing some of their timeless pieces made from quality materials.
"Through dressing, I express my mood and character. But at the same time, it's a way for me to pay respect to events or the space I'm going to. That's how I was raised – for example, I would never wear jeans to the theatre."
Lydka stopped by ZITA at Pradiareň twice. She was looking for a frame that would be universal yet suit her character. The fitting took place in a calm atmosphere, with attention to her pace and needs. With help from our optician Peťo, she discovered a dark brown frame with an unusual shape from the brand Gamine.
"ZITA gave me space for a calm and longer selection. Peťo, who helped me choose frames, was very kind and considerate. He understood me empathetically and sensed that I was looking for something that characterizes me but doesn't close me into one box. I wanted a frame that could contain different shades of my character, whether in activities or in dressing."
Though she saw herself more in lighter tones, the Brera model appealed to her with its versatility. The frame feels playful, creative, and refined, yet in an instant it can transform into an elegant accessory. She wears it almost everywhere – to workouts, on her bike, and on walks in the forest.
Thanks to the glasses, she's more aware of how she perceives herself and how others see her. It feels to her as if they've brought gentle hints of adulthood and the elegance of a modern, free woman into her life.
"I feel like I do a lot of diverse activities – whether I'm going into the forest all muddy or to the theatre in a long dress. I needed a frame that would be universal but would also harmonize with my personality and the distinctive fashion elements I own. And I found just that."
