Divadlo Sklep

Divadlo Sklep is one of Prague's oldest and most recognizable alternative theatres, active continuously since the early 1970s. Its trademark blend of absurd humor, parody and improvisation earned it cult status among fans of independent Czech theatre.

Where does the name come from?

The name has a literal origin — "sklep" means "cellar" in Czech, and the ensemble was founded in the actual cellar of the grandmother's house belonging to one of its founders, David Vávra. It was there, in 1971, that a group of high school students began staging their first performances, initially under a different name. Over time, "Sklep" stuck and became the group's permanent identity.

Who founded the ensemble?

Divadlo Sklep was created by David Vávra and Milan Šteindler, who were still high school students at the time, along with a circle of friends who wanted to build a theatre distinct from the official state stage. Under the conditions of communist-era normalization, their work — built on exaggeration, grotesque satire and absurd nonsense — offered audiences an escape from the grey reality of censored, official culture.

What was the "Prague Five" movement?

Over time, Divadlo Sklep became the driving force behind the so-called Prague Five (Pražská pětka), an informal grouping of independent theatre ensembles that, besides Sklep, included Mimóza, Vpřed, Kolotoč and Křeč. This movement was one of the most distinctive generational phenomena on Prague's theatre scene in the 1970s and 1980s, bringing freshness, irony and critical distance to a period when official culture was tightly controlled.

Where can you see performances today?

Since 1980, the ensemble has been based at Divadlo Dobeška, located in Prague's Braník district (Prague 4). This is where the group regularly stages its performances, drawing both longtime fans and new generations of audiences discovering its work.

Why does Divadlo Sklep matter to Prague's cultural life?

Among all the ensembles that made up the Prague Five, Sklep proved to be not only the oldest but also the largest and most enduring — the only one of the group still performing continuously to this day. A number of well-known Czech actors, directors, musicians and other artists emerged from its ranks, building their careers after starting out on the stage of this modest cellar theatre.

Frequently asked questions

When was Divadlo Sklep founded? The ensemble was established in 1971, while its founders were still high school students.

Where does the theatre's name come from? From the cellar of a founder's grandmother's house, where the first rehearsals and performances took place.

Where does the group perform today? Since 1980, its home stage has been Divadlo Dobeška in Prague's Braník district.

What defines Divadlo Sklep's style? Absurd humor, parody, satire and exaggeration — a style that set it apart from official culture during the normalization era.

Is it worth visiting during a trip to Prague? For anyone interested in alternative culture and the history of independent Czech theatre, it's a place of significant symbolic value and a still-living artistic tradition.