About this place
Summer Shakespeare Festival is a theatre festival held in the courtyard of Burgrave Palace at Prague Castle. Every summer, this historic and picturesque venue transforms into an open-air stage for productions of William Shakespeare's plays performed in Czech.
Who started the festival?
The festival was originally initiated by Václav Havel — playwright, dissident, and later the first president of the Czech Republic following the Velvet Revolution. His personal connection to drama and theatre lies at the root of this project dedicated to Shakespeare's work. That origin gives the festival a distinctive character, tying together theatrical tradition with recent Czech history, in which Havel played a defining role both as an artist and as a statesman.
Where do the performances take place?
The festival's main stage is the courtyard of Burgrave Palace within the grounds of Prague Castle — a site rich in architectural and historical significance that is itself a major draw for visitors to the city. However, the festival is not confined to Prague alone. The same productions are also staged at Špilberk Castle in Brno and at Bratislava Castle in Bratislava. This makes the Summer Shakespeare Festival a touring event, present across three historic locations in two countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Who is behind the translations?
The organizers work closely with Martin Hilský, a Czech scholar of English literature and translator widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary translators of Shakespeare into Czech. Most of the plays staged during the festival rely on his translations. This collaboration with such a respected specialist in Shakespeare's work lends the festival additional artistic credibility, ensuring that the productions are grounded in carefully crafted, modern renderings of classic texts.
Why is this venue worth visiting?
The combination of an open-air castle courtyard setting with the classic Shakespearean repertoire creates an atmosphere difficult to replicate inside a conventional theatre. Visitors attending performances at Prague Castle during the festival experience the plays surrounded by genuine historic architecture, which adds visual power and context to the productions. For theatre enthusiasts and those interested in Prague's cultural history, it is an opportunity to see a site that has become a fixture of the city's cultural calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly does the Summer Shakespeare Festival take place in Prague? In the courtyard of Burgrave Palace, located within the grounds of Prague Castle.
Who founded the festival? The festival was initiated by Václav Havel.
Does the festival only take place in Prague? No — the same productions are also presented in Brno (Špilberk Castle) and in Bratislava (Bratislava Castle).
Who translates the plays performed at the festival? Most of the plays staged are based on translations by Martin Hilský, with whom the organizers closely cooperate.
What plays are performed? The festival presents theatrical productions of William Shakespeare's plays performed in Czech.
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