Divadlo Miriam

Divadlo Miriam is a small theatre hall in Prague's Strašnice district, housed in a building owned by the Roman Catholic parish of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The hall was created in 1995 through the conversion of a former parish chapel and seats up to one hundred people, making it one of the more intimate performance spaces in Prague.

Where did this venue come from?

The building originally served as a temporary chapel for the newly established Strašnice parish. Once a new church was built directly across from it between 1992 and 1994, the old chapel lost its original liturgical purpose. Rather than closing the space, the parish chose to convert it into a multipurpose hall — and Divadlo Miriam was born in the mid-1990s as a result.

Who performs on this stage?

Since 2000, the hall has been closely tied to the Petrklíč theatre ensemble, a group of roughly ten artists from Prague and Kladno. The ensemble itself was founded back in 1989, well before it took over the Strašnice venue — Divadlo Miriam only became its permanent home after years of performing elsewhere.

What kind of repertoire does it stage?

Petrklíč sets itself apart from the typical programming of Prague's commercial stages. The ensemble consistently draws on the core values of European humanism, with a particular grounding in Christian tradition, which shapes both the choice of texts and how they are staged. The repertoire includes fairy tales for younger audiences alongside productions aimed at adults, allowing the theatre to function simultaneously as a family-friendly venue and a space for more serious reflection.

Who is this venue for?

Divadlo Miriam does not try to compete in scale with Prague's grand national stages, but it offers something harder to find there — an intimate hundred-seat hall, close contact with the performers, and a clearly defined artistic identity. It suits visitors looking for theatre rooted in a specific set of values rather than a purely entertainment-driven evening in the city centre. Its location in Strašnice, away from the main tourist routes, means the audience is made up mostly of Prague locals and people specifically seeking out a Christian-humanist repertoire.

Frequently asked questions

How many seats does Divadlo Miriam have? The hall seats up to one hundred people, placing it among Prague's more intimate theatre venues.

Which ensemble performs at Divadlo Miriam? Since 2000 the venue has been home to the Petrklíč ensemble, a group of about ten actors from Prague and Kladno that has existed since 1989.

What defines the theatre's repertoire? Its programming draws on European humanist and Christian values, combining fairy tales for children with productions intended for adult audiences.

How did the theatre building come to exist? The building was originally a temporary parish chapel, converted into a performance hall in 1995 after a new church was built directly opposite it.