Divadlo Ungelt

Divadlo Ungelt is an intimate theatre tucked into the heart of Prague's Old Town, inside the historic Ungelt complex (also known as the Týn Courtyard), just steps from Old Town Square. The building itself carries a history far older than the stage it houses — the cellar space where performances now take place rests on Romanesque foundations dating back to the 11th century, giving the venue an unusually tangible sense of history.

How did Divadlo Ungelt come to be?

The theatre opened its doors on October 2, 1995. The opening ceremony included celebrated Czech actor Miloš Kopecký, who marked the occasion by donating his favorite swivel chair to the venue — a fitting gesture for a theatre built around the craft of acting. The very first production staged there was "Dobrou noc, mami" ("Good Night, Mother"), featuring well-known Czech actresses Jana Brejchová and Květa Fialová. The theatre's real breakthrough came two years later, in 1997, with the production "Bouřlivé jaro" ("Stormy Spring"), directed by Ladislav Smoček — actress Alena Vránová won the prestigious Thálie Award for her role in that production, the top theatrical honor in the Czech Republic.

Who runs the theatre?

Divadlo Ungelt was founded by actor Milan Hein, who serves as its owner and artistic director. His husband, Martin Šimek, works alongside him as the theatre's operations director. Together, the two have shaped the venue's artistic identity for more than three decades.

What makes its repertoire distinctive?

Divadlo Ungelt is built around a clear artistic concept: it is, first and foremost, an actor's theatre, where the craft of performance takes precedence over elaborate staging or large casts. Productions here typically involve no more than three actors on stage at a time, which demands precision and intensity from every performer — every line and gesture carries weight. It is no surprise that many of the actors who appear on this stage are past winners of the Thálie Award, the Czech Republic's most prestigious theatrical prize.

The current repertoire includes titles such as "Brácha," "Cesta k vodopádům," "Cizí příběhy," "Deštivé dny," "Dvojka," "Housle," "Jak starý je Měsíc," "Krásná vzpomínka," "Lavička," "Pan Halpern a pan Johnson," and "Příběh ze zoo" — a mix of psychological dramas, intimate comedies, and dialogue-driven two- and three-hander plays.

Where exactly is the theatre located?

Divadlo Ungelt sits at Malá Štupartská 1, in Prague 1, right in the middle of the historic Old Town. Its location within the Ungelt complex — a former medieval merchants' courtyard — makes it easy to combine a theatre visit with a stroll through the surrounding historic sites, including the nearby Church of Our Lady before Týn and Old Town Square itself.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth visiting Divadlo Ungelt without speaking Czech? Performances are staged in Czech, so visitors without knowledge of the language may find it hard to follow the plot in full. That said, the atmosphere itself — an intimate hall set within cellars built on 11th-century Romanesque foundations — is a reward in its own right.

How many actors typically appear in a production? In keeping with the theatre's artistic concept, most plays feature no more than three actors, making Divadlo Ungelt a notably intimate stage compared to larger repertory theatres.

What kind of building houses the theatre? The venue occupies a historic structure within the Ungelt complex, whose cellar foundations date back to the 11th century — meaning the theatre operates within a space whose history predates the stage itself by many centuries.

Who founded the theatre and when did it open? Divadlo Ungelt was founded by actor Milan Hein, and the theatre has operated continuously since it opened on October 2, 1995.