Branické divadlo

Branické divadlo is a small neighbourhood theatre in Prague's Braník district, tracing its roots back to the 19th century and now operating under the name Divadlo BRAVO!.

Where did the theatre come from?

The story begins in 1868, when a Sports-Fire Brigade-Amateur Association was founded in Prague, out of which grew a community of amateur actors in Braník. For decades they performed mostly in local pubs, without a permanent stage of their own. It was only after the end of World War I that Braník residents decided to build their own cultural venue, following the example set by the national fundraising campaign for Prague's National Theatre, and financed the new building themselves. The theatre opened in 1925, and the first play staged there was "Naši furianti" ("Our Rascals"), a classic Czech folk comedy.

How did the building's purpose change over time?

Over its hundred-year history, the venue's fortunes shifted repeatedly. Amateur actors, professional performers, and pantomime artists all took to its stage at different times. Toward the end of World War II the building lost its theatrical function entirely and was used as a furniture warehouse. In the 1960s it came under the administration of the Prague 4 District Cultural Centre, and for a period it was used by Czechoslovak television. The venue's real artistic peak came in the 1980s, when Boris Hybner launched the legendary "Mim Session" here — together with Jiří Turek, he turned the theatre into an island of free, experimental performance that drew attention from Prague's wider artistic scene.

What is happening at the theatre today?

Poor technical condition eventually left the building largely unused for many years, and theatrical activity only resumed at the end of 2016. Since 2021 the venue has been run by a tenant operating under the name Divadlo BRAVO!, continuing the Braník stage's tradition under a new brand and with a new repertoire. The building has kept its intimate, neighbourhood character — it remains closely tied to local residents rather than functioning as a major tourist-facing cultural institution in central Prague.

Why does it matter?

Branické divadlo shows how a grassroots community project — a theatre built and financed by local residents themselves — can survive a full century despite political upheaval, war, and long stretches of complete inactivity. It is also a notable chapter in the history of Czech alternative theatre, linked to the name of Boris Hybner and the pantomime movement of 1980s Czechoslovakia.

Frequently asked questions

When was Branické divadlo built? The theatre building was constructed and opened in 1925, although the roots of the amateur theatre community in Braník go back to 1868.

What is the theatre called today? Since 2021 the stage has been run by a tenant under the name Divadlo BRAVO!, though the historical name Branické divadlo is still used to refer to the building itself.

What happened to the theatre during the war and under communism? Toward the end of World War II the building served as a furniture warehouse, and in the 1960s it passed under the administration of the Prague 4 District Cultural Centre, also being used by Czechoslovak television.

Why was the theatre closed for so long? Poor technical condition meant that no performances were held there for many years; activity only resumed at the end of 2016.

Who was Boris Hybner and what was his connection to this place? Boris Hybner was a Czech mime artist and director who, in the 1980s, organized the "Mim Session" series at Branické divadlo, creating together with Jiří Turek an important centre of experimental pantomime theatre in Prague.