Divadlo U Hasičů

Divadlo U Hasičů (Theatre at the Firemen's House) is a small theatre venue occupying the ground floor of the Firemen's House on Římská Street in Prague's Vinohrady district, part of Prague 2. The building itself dates back to 1927-1929, when it was constructed for the Czech Provincial Firefighters' Association, and it has served as a local cultural venue for nearly a century, even though its exact use as a stage has shifted several times over the decades.

What was the building originally used for?

From the very start, in 1929, the space functioned as a Varieté-Bio - a venue combining film screenings with musical, cabaret and variety performances. For a period the Tatra cinema also operated on the premises. Over the years several operetta and theatre ensembles staged productions here, including the Malá opera (Small Opera) and Velká opera (Grand Opera) companies. The longest-running tenant, however, was the Divadlo Spejbla a Hurvínka, a celebrated Czech puppet theatre that occupied the building from 1945 to 1994.

How did the venue become Divadlo U Hasičů?

When the Spejbl and Hurvínek puppet theatre left the Římská Street building on 4 November 1994, the vacated space was reborn as Divadlo U Hasičů. The name is a direct reference to the building's origins: "hasiči" means "firefighters" in Czech, so the theatre's name essentially translates to "the theatre at the firemen's place," honoring the structure's original purpose as a firefighters' association headquarters.

What changed during the renovation?

Between 1999 and 2000 the building underwent a thorough reconstruction to bring it up to the standards expected of a modern theatre venue. Following the renovation, the auditorium was configured to hold 358 seats arranged across fourteen rows, making it an intimate stage that keeps audiences close to the performers.

Why does this theatre matter locally?

Divadlo U Hasičů remains one of the recognizable cultural landmarks of Vinohrady and the wider Prague 2 district. While it is not a national stage or an internationally famous institution, its history stretching back to the late 1920s, combined with decades spent hosting one of the Czech Republic's best-known puppet theatres, gives the venue lasting significance for the local cultural identity. The building continues to function as a working theatre today, extending an unbroken tradition of artistic activity that spans nearly a hundred years.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Divadlo U Hasičů located? The theatre is located on Římská Street in the Vinohrady neighborhood, part of Prague's Prague 2 district, on the ground floor of the former Firemen's House.

Where does the theatre's name come from? The name refers to the building's original purpose: it was built in 1927-1929 as the headquarters of the Czech Provincial Firefighters' Association, hence "U Hasičů" ("at the firefighters'").

What theatre operated here before? From 1945 to 1994 the same building housed the Divadlo Spejbla a Hurvínka, one of the most famous Czech puppet theatres.

How many seats does the auditorium have? Following the 1999-2000 reconstruction, the auditorium seats 358 people across fourteen rows.