The basic idea of the Horizons 50+ project is to share the benefits of improvisation with the older generation. 50 expresses the intention to focus on people who already have a certain amount of life experience. Horizons is a symbol. Every time you achieve something in life, climb a hill, you see a little further, another hill, a new horizon. That is why the project is called Horizons 50+.

My colleague Regina came up with the idea of reaching out to those born earlier and invited me to collaborate on the project. The project was born during the year 2024. You can read more about it at https://www.horizonty.net (Czech only).

Online privacy has become an important topic for me recently. Protecting data, my own and my clients', is a value I hold dear.

Some time ago, I decided to completely abandon or at least significantly limit most of the big players who collect data on the Internet, either to create targeted advertising or to provide data to other entities. I am gradually implementing this decision.

This site is built on the Joomla content management system. It uses only the necessary cookies for its operation, does not collect data about visitors, does not display advertising, nor is there any external service integrated into it that would serve a similar purpose.

Protection against spam and bots is handled by hCaptcha. Its privacy policy and terms and conditions apply. The service provider, Intuition Machines, guarantees a privacy-focused solution for users. hCaptcha is the only service that the site integrates directly at this time. All other components are local (part of the site code itself) and completely under my control.

I am aware that tools that track people's internet activity, make browser fingerprints and perform advanced aggregation calculations on the data cannot be completely escaped. However, there is no reason to provide data about yourself for free. I also use some tools and communication channels where this cannot be avoided, such as social networks. However, I handle information there modestly.

I use Box to share documents and other resources. The service guarantees zero-trust security. The data is always end-to-end encrypted and not even the cloud storage provider itself has access to it. Box also provides an interface to Office 365 and Google, so I can easily share data in the way the client wants. The way data is transferred and shared is always determined by the client.

My cell phone uses the GrapheneOS operating system. This system runs apps in sandboxes. This isolates individual services from each other and prevents them from accessing data from other applications unless they are explicitly allowed to do so.

My story began in a small village called Panenský Týnec. At the local primary school, I first encountered a computer. This encounter directed my steps to Prague to the electrotechnical school. From there, my path led to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University, where I graduated in 2003. I went through several jobs after my studies before I landed in Kolín at Rockwell Automation.

Three careers

Shortly after Rockwell moved from Kolín to Prague, Roger joined the company to lead the team. He was a UK-born guy but had lived most of his life in Canada. My first big business trip was to Florida and Roger flew with me. He told me about his career outlook during the flight. I grew up in an environment where people had one vocation and that was what they devoted their lives to. But Roger said that you should keep multiple paths open and work on three careers. At the time, I was reserved about it. It was only over time that I began to realize that I was doing it. My three careers at the time were technology, sports and management. Three careers is a good approach. When one path closes, whatever the reasons, two others are not entirely new. This approach has allowed me to make big changes in my life.

Sokol (Falcon)

After the Velvet Revolution, the Sokol organization, which had a strong tradition in our family, was restored. It was the Sokol where I began to gain my first experience in working with people. It started innocently enough with summer camps, where I grew from a participant to a trainee and later a leader. Over time I became a qualified trainer. Since I was eighteen, I have been in the gym and have mostly enjoyed working with children. Over time I have become more and more involved in running the organisation. In 2010 I became the County Mayor (regional unit) and in 2013 I was elected to the CSO Board, the highest body of the association. At that prompting, I joined the Business Institute to get a closer look at the management of organizations. My critical thinking, which had served me well as an engineer, began to run up against not only the shortcomings of the organization but more importantly, the unwillingness to address many things. After two years of painstaking and almost futile work, I created the Vision 18 project and published my views in the hope that there would be enough others to start changing things gradually. The project has generated a strong response, but at the highest levels a negative one. I got a taste of what politics is and what it means to go against the system. It was a good experience and my initiative certainly helped Sokol. Even though it was the right thing to do, I was politically removed so that those who rejected my ideas in the next election would benefit from them. Bitter, but I'd do it again. I'm left with experience, a gym and a job that gives me instant joy.

Journey

I heard about Santiago de Compostela many years ago in a documentary and completely forgot about it. In 2016, the Journey called me. That year, our HR gave her notice, saying she was going to Santiago and when she returned she would decide what to do next. I didn't know Paul Coelho's book (Pilgrim, The Magician's Diary) or the movie (The Way, 2012), those came in hindsight, but the idea of adventure was awakened in full force. It was also a time when I needed to deal with the experience of the Sokol board. In late August 2017, I packed my backpack and embarked on a pilgrimage, not in its religious sense, but rather in a Zen-like return to the simplicity of life. I turned off everything, media and phone. I just was and went. My Journey began in Lourdes and, after crossing the Pyrenees, wound through northern Spain to the end of the world. It was an incredible 55 days. I love to remember them. Thinking back on it, I think that somewhere in here is the beginning of my transformation.

Improvisation

After returning from the Journey, changes began to come. I never wanted to spend time in the city. Now I thought I'd give Prague a chance and found an apartment. It didn't take long for me to change jobs. Then the idea of learning to dance came up and through dance I met improvisation. At first, the unassuming-looking self-development pastime contained playfulness, laughter, and the most powerful possible journey towards myself I have ever known. I fell under its spell and it began to transform me. The Covid virus entered the improvisational beginnings, changing everything and everyone. The improv community was an invaluable support during a challenging time. The stage continued to allow me to discover hidden strengths and talents. Improv gradually became a passion and prepared me for the next change. In 2023, the first tutor academy opened. The year-long self-training went to the very core of my inner motivations and fears at times. I worked on myself and grew.

Quo Vadis

At the end of the training, things started to change at work and I realized that I had reached the end of the road in the company. I quit my job and went on a self-development course aptly named Quo Vadis. As if it had been waiting for me, the timing was incredibly close. Quo Vadis was nine days of action-packed experiences. I was recapitulating, naming and looking for a way forward. On the last evening, I walked on hot coals. I wouldn't have believed it possible. After the course came a long period of rest, learning, reflection and new fears about whether I was on the right path. However, the projects and challenges coming up gradually reassured me that I was.

Present

Today, I am trying to stand on my own two feet and capitalize on everything I have learned. In February 2025, I became self-employed. I realize that my portfolio is wide open. I like variety and enjoy bridging worlds and finding similarities in fields that are seemingly unrelated. I still like to return to programming and enjoy tutoring and gaming. Out of the corner of my eye, I squint for a deeper dive into psychology and technical projects. I'm curious to see where the next challenge will come from and what will be the next milestone in my journey.

A unique opportunity. Australian improv legend in Prague! Apply here.

Workshops in Prague 2025

Thursday, July 3, 5pm-9pm

Flick or Elastic

Timing. Rhythm. Silence. Tension. Impact.

How do you build scenes that truly resonate – whether comedic or dramatic?

In this workshop, Nick Byrne busts the myth that "good timing" is a talent. It's not – it's a skill you can learn and develop. You’ll explore the power of pauses, rhythm shifts, vocal and physical dynamics, and how to use these to create moments of real impact.

Stretch your theatrical instincts like an elastic band – build tension, release it with purpose, and let your scenes land with clarity and force.

For intermediate to advanced improvisers ready to go beyond the comfortable and into the truly effective.

Workshop in English.

Friday, July 4, 4pm-9pm

Dimensions & All At Once show

Characters from other dimensions. Presences you can feel but not see. One shared space.

What if you're sharing a scene with someone who isn’t there yet – or who no longer exists?

What if time doesn’t matter, and presence transcends reality?

In Dimensions, you’ll explore the imaginative and emotional space between worlds – ghosts, memories, past lives, alternate versions – and how these enrich our scenes.

This workshop leads to a unique performance: All At Once, where characters from different timelines gradually emerge until all are on stage, sharing one strange and magical present.

You’re welcome to join the workshop even if you don’t wish to perform. Performers will be selected during the workshop.

Workshop in English.

Nick Byrne

Nick Byrne is Artistic Director and the creator of Improvention; Australia’s original and largest international festival and convention of unscripted theatre. He is also Artistic Director of Impro ACT, the major improvisational theatre company in Australia’s capital, Canberra.

Nick works as an actor, director, producer, and musician, in all realms of theatre and film, and has been a delegate to the Australian Theatre Forum, but improvisation is his ruling passion. He has worked in 40 countries throughout Europe, Asia, and Australasia, as an individual guest, or in festivals, including; Moment16 & Moment18 in Vienna, Mt Olymprov in Athens, FIIF in Tampere, Improfest in Gothenburg, Salento Improv Festival, Sofia Improv Festival, RIIF in St Petersburg, TILT in Tallinn, Bengaluru (India), Jo Festival in Poland, Improvember in Munich, and Singapore Improv Festival.

In 2024, he worked in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Iceland, Bulgaria, Belgium, India, and even went to Kyiv in Ukraine to donate some time to theatre practitioners keeping their arts and hearts alive.

He teaches and directs all styles of the craft, and has done so for 20 years, producing groundbreaking shows, “The Displaced” (refugee issues), “Crescendo” (a rock band with dramas), “Drivers” (about your internal monologues), “In Person 8” (improvised impersonations), and “Parallel” (three physical stories at once), and more recently, his popular vulnerable solo show, “Inspired”.

Nick tries to make the areas of improvisation that seem difficult, easier for performers, and reduce their worry so that they can play at their peak. He also conducts workplace sessions, helping Olympians deal with adversity, and United Nations Peacekeepers to remain culturally aware. He likes to explore.

Nick is fascinated by people, and always aims to meet as many as possible, at festivals and arranged workshop visits.

Nick writes the 220,000 words An Improviser's Learning Journal. Read here: https://impro.com.au/learning-journal/.