Divadlo Spirála

Divadlo Spirála (renamed Nová Spirála in 2024) is a multi-genre performance venue located within Výstaviště Praha, the historic exhibition grounds in Prague's Holešovice district. The theatre takes its name from a distinctive spiral ramp, the defining architectural feature of its interior, which visitors follow as it winds around the stage to reach their seats.

How to get there?

Výstaviště sits in the northern part of Prague, in Holešovice, well connected to the city centre by public transport. The exhibition grounds border Stromovka Park, making the area worth combining with a walk before or after a show. Given the scale of the Výstaviště complex, it's worth allowing extra time to find the Spirála building itself among the various exhibition pavilions on site.

What's the history behind it?

The building dates to 1991, when it was created for a Jubilee Exhibition held at Výstaviště: a former circular panoramic cinema was converted into a new theatre stage. The bold conversion was recognised with an honorable mention in its opening year, and in 1993 it received the Grand Prix of the Czech Architects' Association in the Reconstruction category.

The theatre's fortunes changed dramatically during the catastrophic Prague floods of August 2002. Rising water submerged the lower part of the exhibition park, including the Spirála building, causing severe damage. The venue was shut down and gradually deteriorated over the following two decades while it awaited funding and a plan for restoration.

A full reconstruction was completed in autumn 2024, and the theatre reopened under the name Nová Spirála. The renovated venue now features a circular main hall with a rotating stage seating up to 800 spectators, alongside a smaller stage designed for music, theatre, and dance performances with capacity for up to 340 people.

What can you see there?

The spiral ramp remains the building's signature feature — an unusual solution in theatre architecture that gives the interior a distinctive, dynamic character rarely found elsewhere. The rotating stage in the main hall allows for ambitious, large-scale productions that would be difficult to stage in conventional, fixed theatre spaces. With two performance spaces — a large hall and a smaller, more intimate stage — Nová Spirála can host a wide range of events simultaneously, from theatrical productions to concerts and dance shows.

Beyond its programming, the building itself is of interest to anyone curious about early-1990s Czechoslovak architecture and the broader history of Prague's Výstaviště exhibition grounds, standing as an example of successful adaptive reuse from that period.

When should you visit?

Nová Spirála's programme spans a variety of cultural events, so it's worth checking the current schedule before planning a visit — the venue functions primarily as a performance space rather than a permanent tourist attraction open for casual sightseeing. Pairing a visit with a walk through neighbouring Stromovka Park or other parts of the Výstaviště complex makes for a fuller day out in this part of Prague.

Frequently asked questions

What is Divadlo Spirála / Nová Spirála? It's a multi-genre performance venue at Výstaviště Praha, known for its distinctive spiral ramp leading to the auditorium and its rotating main stage.

Why was the building closed for so long? The devastating Prague floods of August 2002 severely damaged the building, which then waited years for a full reconstruction, finally completed in autumn 2024.

How many people can the main hall seat? The circular main hall with its rotating stage seats up to 800 spectators, while the smaller, more intimate stage holds up to 340 people.