HaDivadlo

HaDivadlo is one of the best-known alternative theatre stages in Brno, currently housed in a former cinema building under the Alfa passage in the heart of the city. The name is a shortened form of its original title, Hanácké divadlo, which over time became the theatre's established brand.

Where did HaDivadlo come from?

The company was founded in the 1970s in Prostějov, in the Moravia region, at a time when the communist regime tightly controlled cultural life. The theatre quickly earned a reputation for bold, defiant work — productions relied on allegory and satire that slipped past censors while still speaking directly to an attentive audience. This drew students, intellectuals, and people skeptical of official propaganda, turning HaDivadlo into a kind of cultural resistance point of its era.

How did the theatre end up in Brno?

In 1985, the company ended its run in Prostějov and relocated to Brno. Its first home there was the Bedřich Václavek Education and Science Club. Over time, HaDivadlo became affiliated with the Brno State Theatre and, together with Divadlo Husa na provázku (Theatre on a String), formed its experimental stage — two ensembles known for bold, author-driven formal experiments that complemented each other within Brno's theatre scene.

In 1991, HaDivadlo merged with the Ochotnický kroužek (Amateur Circle) ensemble, and the combined company moved to Sukova Street, where the so-called Kabinet múz (Cabinet of Muses) was established. Its current home followed in 2004: a former cinema under the Alfa passage, which still houses the theatre today.

Who shaped the theatre's artistic identity?

The company's artistic profile was largely defined by director Svatopluk Vála, working alongside dramaturg Josef Kovalčuk. Among the directors whose most acclaimed productions are associated with this stage are Arnošt Goldflam and Jan Antonín Pitínský, both regarded as leading figures of Czech alternative theatre in recent decades.

What is on stage today?

HaDivadlo follows three main dramaturgical lines: original, author-driven projects created from scratch by the ensemble, distinctive reworkings of classic texts, and a so-called off programme of experimental productions outside the main repertoire. In practice, this means performances where the actors' own creative input into a role and theme carries as much weight as the written text itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is HaDivadlo located? The theatre occupies a former cinema building under the Alfa passage, right in the centre of Brno.

Is this theatre only for fans of alternative stagecraft? The repertoire combines classic works reinterpreted through an author-driven lens with experimental projects, so it appeals both to audiences looking for something unconventional and to those wanting to see familiar titles presented differently.

Since when has HaDivadlo existed? The company's history goes back to the 1970s and the town of Prostějov, though it has operated in its current Brno form and venue since 2004.

What sets HaDivadlo apart from other Brno stages? It stands out for its strong emphasis on the actors' own creative contribution to building a production, and for a history of resistance to censorship that shaped its identity even before the move to Brno.