The Drama Club

The Drama Club (Czech: Činoherní klub) is one of Prague's best-known theatre stages, running since the mid-1960s on Ve Smečkách street, just a short walk from Wenceslas Square. The venue blends a classic dramatic theatre with the feel of an intimate club — the auditorium sits close to the stage, and evening performances often spill over into conversations at the bar afterward.

How did this stage come to be?

The theatre was founded by Ladislav Smoček and Jaroslav Vostrý, opening with a production of "Piknik" on 3 March 1965. Since then, Činoherní klub has built a reputation as one of the city's leading dramatic stages, favouring psychological acting and contemporary playwrights alongside classic works.

Why does this place carry historical weight?

The walls of this theatre witnessed one of the turning points of modern Czech history. On 19 November 1989, only two days after the Velvet Revolution began, the Civic Forum (Občanské fórum) was founded right here — the movement that led the peaceful political changes which brought down the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. For many Czechs, the venue stands for freedom just as much as for art.

What has earned the theatre critical recognition?

Its artistic output has been honoured with the prestigious Alfréd Radok Award in the Theatre of the Year category — twice, in 2002 and 2008. In the Czech Republic this prize carries a weight comparable to the country's most important theatre honours, confirming that Činoherní klub has kept a consistently high standard of repertoire over the decades.

What is an evening at The Drama Club actually like?

Visitors often describe a warm, friendly atmosphere — a small, local venue near Wenceslas Square where you can see well-known Czech actors up close, in near-intimate contact with the audience. The theatre also works a bit like a neighbourhood club: there's good food, sometimes live music, and the bar area draws in both pre-show theatregoers and locals stopping by for an evening beer.

Who is this a good fit for?

This is best suited to visitors who enjoy dramatic theatre and want to experience the Czech acting scene from the inside rather than as a purely touristic sight. It's worth keeping in mind, though, that performances are mostly staged in Czech, so for visitors who don't speak the language, the biggest draw remains the atmosphere itself, the venue's history, and the evening club scene at the bar.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is The Drama Club located? At Ve Smečkách 26, in central Prague, close to Wenceslas Square.

How is this different from a typical sightseeing attraction in the centre? It's an active theatre stage with a real repertoire rather than a spot you simply walk through — the interior is best experienced by attending an evening performance.

What historical significance does the venue have? The Civic Forum was founded here two days after the start of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, playing a key role in the peaceful fall of communism in Czechoslovakia.

Are performances accessible to non-Czech speakers? The repertoire is staged mainly in Czech, so visitors without the language often find more value in the bar's atmosphere and the building's history than in following the plot of a play.