Those who play, don't get angry!
Do you know what your parents and grandparents played with? Or do you like to remember? The exhibition Who Plays, Doesn't Get Angry! will open with a vernissage on March 19, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. in the Ceremonial Castle Hall of the city of Přerov. It will be open to the public from March 20 to September 20, 2026 and will present a unique perspective on the development of Czechoslovak toys from the post-war period until 1990. Visitors can look forward to hundreds of exhibits loaned by a private collector as well as samples of collection items from the Comenius Museum in Přerov, the Museum of Local History in Olomouc, the Záhoří Museum and the Vinary Kindergarten.
The exhibition maps not only the production development of toys, but also their changing educational and social role. A toy is no longer just a means of entertainment – in the 20th century, it became an important tool for developing creativity, aesthetic sense and practical skills of a child. The exhibition shows how the ideals of the time, technological progress and social and political changes were reflected in the form of toys.
Visitors will see toys not only in display cases, but also in their natural environment – in a child’s room, on a sandbox or in a kindergarten classroom. The exhibition concept thus offers an authentic experience and a space for intergenerational sharing of memories. Adults can reminisce about their childhood, while children can discover the world of games of their parents and grandparents in a richly equipped playroom.
The exhibition will also commemorate famous manufacturers and iconic designers who shaped the form of Czechoslovak toys. Among them are, for example, the company Merkur, whose metal construction kits have been produced since 1927, or the work of designer Libuša Niklová, the author of legendary inflatable animals and accordion figures. The international success of Czechoslovak design at the EXPO 1958 World Exhibition in Brussels, which was designed by Jiří Trnka, for example, will also be commemorated.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, Czechoslovak toys experienced another significant period of prosperity. The production of national enterprises and cooperatives brought a number of now iconic products, which are currently returning in the form of retro editions and are regaining popularity across generations. The exhibition thus shows that quality design and imagination have timeless value.
The exhibition will also include a rich accompanying program including creative workshops, guided tours, lectures and a thematically tuned museum night. The exhibition Who Plays, Doesn't Get Angry! will offer not only a return to childhood, but also a deeper look at the cultural and social significance of toys in modern history.
The exhibition is curated by Mgr. Kristina Sehnálková and Mgr. Jana Trtíková.
