Image by Jana Kneschke

Once upon a time, there was a theatre in Prague. A theatre, that played contemporary German and Austrian drama. Comedy here was not without bitterness. In tragedy there was always a moment of humor. There was a lot of irony and sarcasm too. There were also a good number of awards and gems of production that were notable in the theatre world. There was also a theatre bar Komedie. One of the best in Prague.

If you come in now, up to the end of the summer season, you still can be part of this fairy tale of intelligent theatre right in the centre of Prague. From autumn on there will be some nameless comedy stuff and the years of work of the theatre director Dušan Pařízek, and his family of actors will leave… Nobody knows what will happen then. So hurry up and visit, and have some coffee or a glass of wine. This offer will expire soon.

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Komedie | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Theaters | Espresso CZK 30
Jungmannova 1 | Praha 1
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 01:00, Sun 17:00 – 01:00

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Image by Jana Kneschke

Once upon a time, Roxy was one of the very few options in Prague for a decent evening, when I felt like some dancing. But these times are over and Roxy still lives its standards.

Opened in 1992 under the name of Roxy, and reopened in 2002, and just recently in 2010 and 2011 due to reconstruction and some bureaucratic mismatches afterwards, this place become alive again.

In 20`s and 30`s it was a shining pearl at the Old Town, full of people in its restaurant, cinema and a ballroom. After being damaged by the enormous floods (2002), the Experimental Area Roxy/NoD now offers a full variety of concerts, dance music, gallery presentations, internet café with wi-fi connection, theatre, films, performances and workshops. For some of their best gigs have a look yourself.

If you are into clubbing and are in Prague for couple days, Roxy is definitely the place to go – next to Radost FX (see the Radost FX article). Have a look at the programme to see if anything interests you. They have regular Free Mondays and Midweek Lounge, where entry is free.

Oh, and do not forget about NoD upstairs (check the NoD article)!

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Roxy | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Music, Theaters
Dlouhá 33 | Praha 1 | +420224826296
Depends on given programme

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Image by Jana K.

Have you ever wondered, where the modern black-light theatre began? In Prague you can visit the building, that was made exclusively for Laterna Magika, the new multimedia format introduced in 1958 in Brussels. There is a still a play made for that occasion – Wonderful Circus.

Bulding itself, formerly known as Laterna Magika, now as Nová scéna of the National Theatre, was finally finished in 1983 (history). Since then it caused a lot of dispute amongst architects and public both. In short: you love or you hate it, same goes with Fred and Ginger.

From January 2010 Laterna Magika is again part of the National Theatre. Today it is an open space for modern theatre and dance events, which often include multimedia effects. If you happen to be here when 420People dances there, don`t miss it.

But if you don`t have time for evening performance, visit the NoNa café at the 2nd floor (check the article about NoNa).

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Nová scéna | Art & culture, Music, Theaters | Ticket from CZK 50
Národní 4 | Praha 1 | +420224931482
Box office: Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 18:00

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Image by Jana Kneschke

La Fabrika has shone like the Bethlehem star in the field of art for a couple of years now. A free space for art that is contemporary but comprehensible for a broader public.

La Fabrika does not have a static group of artists, so it is truly a „free space”, as it calls itself. I love to go there see some dance or to modern classical music. There are also all kinds of visual art and other multimedia events. The scope of La Fabrika is really broad and always interesting.

For those who like modern cirkus and performance, one of the most inrteresting projects will be Up End Down or La Putyka.

Want to know what’s up tonight? Check the La Fabrika news!

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La Fabrika | Art & culture, Music, Theaters, Festivals & events
Komunardů 30 | Praha 7
Depends on given programme

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Image by Jana Kneschke

Archa Theatre is a two storey underground venue and a centre for diverse contemporary stage art. And if it is specialized, then it’s towards the alternative end, and truly an Ark.

Archa is one of my favourite places to find some interesting and clever pieces of performance art and they are able to communicate this diversity to the public. Tickets are not the cheapest, but – do I look for quality or quantity?

The programme of Archa Theatre is rich – from dance to drama, from live concerts to workshops. To show their broad scope just a few names include: Min Tanaka (who opened it in 1994), Butthole Surfers, The Residents, Václav Havel, Zappa plays Zappa, Amon Tobin, Anoushka Shankar, Tiger Lillies, …

Important to mention is that Archa is not only a theatre, it is a production house too – they have many international projects. Also I should not forget the Archa.lab, a loose alliance of artists collected around the Archa Theatre who stress the importance of practical theatre activities, focusing on exploration, research and experiment.

The Guardian newspaper mentioned Archa as the country’s “alternative National Theatre”, and that fits – Archa is exceptionally well-equipped venue for all kinds of stage art: from drama to dance, for concerts as well as performances. All that including a café that serves hot and cold drinks and snacks. Archa feeds the soul and body at the same time.

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Archa Theatre | Art & culture, Music, Theaters
Na Poříčí 26 | Praha 1 | +420221716333
According the programme

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Image by Jana Kneschke

Have a drink or two and maybe meet some friends. That’s one of the reasons why I pop into the NoD bar time to time. The other important reasons are the concerts, exhibition openings, and performances.

When you arrive, get a drink first. The huge bar cannot be overlooked. Do not worry where to sit, there will always be a space, by the bar itself or on the platform next to the bar, or by the alcoves.

Experimental space NoD is connected with Roxy (check the Roxy article), a famous Prague club, and one of the oldest. Roxy downstairs, NoD upstairs. A perfect combination for those who feel frisky day`n`night. NoD defines three subdivisions: Theatre NoD, Gallery NoD, and multimedia NoLab. They are connected to any good quality projects, efforts to uncover strange juxtapositions and dialogs.

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NoD | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Snacks, Theaters | Show from CZK 100
Dlouhá 33 | Praha 1
14:00 – 22:00 daily

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Image by Crossclub.cz

Get swallowed by a living mechanical organism, moving in the rhythm of ska-punk-rockabilly-techno-drone-dnb-jungle-hip-hop-chill out.

Buy a drink in one the bars and then sit down. I tell you – that’s the best position to admire a fan made of scrap iron and car-exhaust pipes. Lights above the tables consisting of gearboxes, drain pipes and kinetic sculptures of many kinds. All polished and mounted with care, animated with extreme effort and unlimited imagination.

Cross club is truly one of the most original Prague clubs. Gives enough space for whatever I feel like doing. Two stages, a theater and two to three bars are open for all kinds of concerts, poetry readings, exhibitions, and I shall not forget to mention the Ghettolledge – a street university.

Be sure that by your next visit there something will have changed – because the world behind the looking glass is never the same, including the numerous corridors that made you feel like you were lost in the rabbit hole the very first time you entered.

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Cross club | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Theaters | Ticket from CZK 100
Plynární 23 | Praha 7
From 16:00 (until the barman is in sleep) daily

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Image by Jana Kneschke

As the history of this one is very different from that of The National Theatre (check the National theatre article), the atmosphere of the Estates Theatre is also different. All furnished in white, pale blue and gold, I feel like I am in a cultural paradise of the high-class Prague bourgeoisie from the end of 18th century. All cherubic bottoms are perfectly rounded

Once I was taken behind the scenes, where the singers and orchestra were preparing for Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute). Seeing the Queen of Night sipping her drink, Sarastros chatting with Tamino and the First Violin smoking her last cigarette before the show, that was something I will never forget.

And then there was the show – their production of The Magic Flute is truly breathtaking. Maybe what counts here is the enormous success that W. A. Mozart experienced with his opera buffa Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). Afterwards which he wrote Don Giovanni especially for this theatre, and for those he named as “my Praguers who understand me.”

Have a look at their programme and choose your evening tale!

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The Estates Theatre | Art & culture, Music, Theaters | Tickets from CZK 50.00
Ovocný trh | Praha 1 | +420224228503
Box office 10:00 – 18:00 & 45 min. before the beginning of a performance

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Image by Jana Kneschke

I love going to the opera. I love all the rituals. It starts when buying the tickets. Then I dress up, do my make-up, hair style. And then, armed with my little Christian Dior purse, I slip into the shoes that I had on me in La Scala while visiting Milano. And I am ready to enjoy the glass of champagne during intermission, all those stand-ups and sit-backs while letting people pass to their seats, and leaving a tip for the person selling the programme. Of course you can get in in jeans and a sweater – but I think you definitely miss half of the fun.

The National Theatre, has an impressive exterior while inside it is all cloaked in king crimson velvet, gold and rich stucco ornaments. National Theatre is is one of the symbols of national pride, mirroring itself in the Vltava river. And it does have an interesting history. The support for building the theatre that came from the whole nation was more like a political proclamation. And when it got burned down in 1881, in 47 days (!) there were all the money and resources collected again, to be reopened 1883.

Tickets for today’s programme can be bought 45 minutes before the beginning of each performance at the evening box office.

If you love ballet, choose one with choreography by Petr Zuska (this season it is Brel – Vysotsky – Kryl / Solo For Three or any of Zuska Gala X). You won’t regret it!

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National Theatre | Art & culture, Music, Theaters | Ticket from CZK 50.00
Ostrovní 1 | Praha 1 | +420224901448
Box office 10:00 – 18:00 & 45 min. before the beginning of a performance

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