English-language comedy takes center stage in Prague this spring and beyond

English-language stand-up comedy has been steadily growing in popularity in Prague. Amateur and professional comedians are bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the comedy scene, providing comedy relief for expats and locals alike.

The growing demand for English-language entertainment options in Prague has led to the establishment of The Metro Comedy Club in Žižkov, which dedicates itself to English-language stand-up comedy. Kristýna Haklová, inspired by her experiences performing in Prague and Berlin, decided to open the comedy club. 

“I was surprised that there wasn’t a club, so we decided to find a venue. After a year and a half, we can see that the demand is there.”  

The venue features open mic and themed comedy events such as Roast Battles, Storytelling, and Dark Comedy shows from Wednesday to Saturday. This platform allows emerging and established visiting comedians to build a following in the city.

Open mic nights are growing, including one of the earlier nights Kristýna established at The Czech Inn in 2017. 

Carmine Rodi Falanga, an established comedian, has been on the scene for seven years. A native Italian, Carmine was inspired by the shows he saw at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has established his long-format shows, as well as helping up-and-coming comedians hone their craft. 

“I saw so many shows in Edinburgh and was impressed by the idea that these people can be alone on the stage and hold such big audiences. I also saw someone bomb, which made the experience relatable, so I thought I would try it.” 

The pub scene has also seen a rise in comedy shows. One of the newest pubs to promote comedy is in Letná’s Coffice. Starting on May 9, they’ll have a weekly show on Thursdays. 

“We wanted to diversify our entertainment program, and being a comedy lover, I thought this was the logical event to add to our calendar. We were lucky enough to find Carmine to run the weekly show. We’re looking forward to bringing some laughter to our venue.” said manager Tomáš Samuelis.

The upcoming Prague Fringe Festival is set to dazzle audiences with a diverse array of performances this year, ranging from comedy and theater to dance and music. 

Steve Gove established the Prague Fringe in 2007, and it has continued to grow. 

“The shows are short, accessible, and tickets are cheap! It’s our biggest program this year, with comedians from India, Ukraine, America, and the UK. It’s going to be a belter.” 

Award-winning comedians Jake Baker, Russell Hicks, and Ukrainian comic Dan Step are just some of the comedians treading the boards at the Fringe. 

Steve also hinted that even more comedy events will be coming soon. The festival runs from May 27 to June 1.

In addition to the regular shows at The Metro, the Fringe, and Coffice, the Comedy Store will visit Lucerna Music Bar on May 10, and more prominent names like Canadian-Irish comic Katherine Ryan will come to Prague in September as part of the Comedy Stop festival.