Prague Theatres

If you go to Prague website homepage (www.praha.cz) and click on the link divadla (theatres), you will find a list of no less than 103 theatres. Even if some of those listed are certainly small or experimental little theatres, in view of the fact that Prague has about one million inhabitants, it is a respectable number.

Here is a bit of information about Prague theatres that may interest a student who will be visiting the city.

First of all, it is good to know that most theatres do not play during the months of July and August. The season begins in September. However, there are exceptions. For example, there is Summer Shakespeare Festival, Letní shakespearovské slavnosti, which runs from the end of June till the middle of September. Shakespeare’s plays are staged in the magnificent courtyard of the Highest Prague Burgrave (Nejvyšší pražské purkrabí) in the Castle. Both King Lear staged in summer 2002 and Hamlet performed in 2003 had well deserved excellent reviews. The tickets have to be purchased ahead of time. Information can be obtained at www.hrad.cz.

The most famous among the theaters located in the center of Prague is the National Theater, Národní divadlo with its four different stages. Two of them, (Bouda, Praha 1, Ovocný trh 1 and Divadlo Kolowrat, Praha 1, Ovocný trh 6) are small theaters, but the National Theater on Národní třída 2 with its opera or ballet repertory and the Estates Theater, Stavovské divadlo (Praha 1, Ovocný trh), where drama is played, are worth visiting. Then there is Prague State Opera, Státní opera Praha (Praha 1, Wilsonova 4) with an exclusively operatic repertory. Information can be obtained at www.opera.cz.

Next to the building of the National Theatre is Laterna Magica (Praha 1, Národní třída 4). Its performances are unlike those of any other traditional theater – its plays are an enchanting mélange of music, ballet, live and on-screen acting. Information on www.laterna.cz.

If you like puppet theater and/or opera, visit the National Marionette Theatre, Národní divadlo marionet (Žatecká 1, Praha 1). It performs Mozart’s Don Giovanni played by marionettes. This opera has been performed here more than 2000 times. Unlike other theaters, the National Marionette Theater is open in July. Information on www.mozart.cz.

You can choose among five Black Theatres – a Czech specialty played by black clad actors against a black backdrop:

• Černé divadlo or All Colours Theatre, Rytířská 31, www.blacktheatre.cz
• Černé divadlo Animáto, Na Příkopě 10, www.volny.cz/black.theatre
• Černé divadlo Fr. Kratochvíla, Divadlo metro, Národní třída 25, www.blacktheatreprague.cz
• Černé divadlo Jiřího Srnce, Divadlo Reduta, Národní třída 20, www.blacktheatre.srnec.cz
• Image, scéna černého divadla, tance a pantomimy, Pařížská 4, www.imagetheatre.cz

Here are some of the drama theatres in Prague:

• Divadlo na Vinohradech, Náměstí Míru 7, Praha 2, www.dnv-praha.cz
• Divadlo na zábradlí (Theatre on the Balustrade), Anenské náměstí, Praha 1, www.nazabradli.cz
• Činoherní klub (Drama Club), Ve Smečkách 26, Praha 1, www.cinoherniklub.cz

A note of caution:
If you attend a theatre performance, casual attire is admissible, especially in smaller theatres. However, it is considered bad-mannered to wear a sweatsuit, T-shirt or sneakers to the opera, ballet or drama theatre.

Top

Prague Galleries

Prague is not only a city of theaters, art galleries also abound. Besides The National Gallery, Národní galerie, Prague’s City Gallery, Galerie města Prahy and national monuments such as Pražský hrad or Vyšehrad, which are listed separately, a cultural guide published monthly under the title Česká kultura lists about 70 galleries. If you visit Prague’s Old Town, its Lesser Quarter or inner city around Wenceslas Square, it is almost impossible not to pass one of them.

The most prestigious and expansive art collection of Národní galerie is housed in the following places:

• Klášter svaté Anežky české, U Milosrdných 17, Praha 1 The splendidly restored Gothic convent has a permanent exhibition of Czech and Central European medieval art from the years 1200 to 1550.
• Klášter svatého Jiří, Hrad, Jiřské náměstí 33, Praha 1 The monastery is located in the area of Prague Castle. It has a permanent exhibition of Bohemian Baroque and mannerist art. 17th and 18th century painter‘s and sculptor’s workshop is a part of the permanent exhibition.
• Veletržní palác, Dukelských hrdinů 47, Praha 7, Holešovice The modernist building, which once housed trade fairs, has been adapted for art exhibitions. The permanent exhibits contain the Czech and foreign art of 19th, 20th and 21st century; there is also a special collection of 19th and 20th century French art.
• Zámek Zbraslav, Bartoňova 2, Praha 5 The Baroque castle holds the collection of Asian art. The permanent exhibition features art from Japan, China, Tibet, India and Southeastern Asia as well as Islamic art

Galerie hlavního města Prahy (Prague’s City Gallery) also shows its exhibits in different places; some of them are listed below:

• Dům u kamenného zvonu (The House at the Stone Bell), Staroměstské náměstí 13, Praha 1 This part of the City Gallery is housed in a beautiful Gothic house close to Týn church. Although it does not have a permanent exhibition, its temporary exhibitions and the interior of this splendid house itself are always worth seeing.
• Dům u zlatého prstenu (The House at the Golden Ring), Ungelt, Týnská 6, Praha 1 This Gothic house in the close vicinity of Týn church and the House at the Stone Bell has a well organized and eye opening permanent exhibition of Czech 20th century art.
• Zámek Trója, U Trójského zámku 1, Praha 7, Trója This castle located in a Prague suburb houses a permanent exhibition of 19th century Czech art and a long term exhibition of Czech sculptures from the years 1900 to 1970.

• Městská knihovna (City Library), the 2nd floor, Mariánské náměstí 1, Praha 1
• Staroměstská radnice (Old Town City Hall), the second floor, Staroměstské náměstí 1, Praha 1