Prague theaters to remain closed until at least March 2021

Regardless of the Czech Republic's PES epidemic index score and corresponding measures, most of Prague's theaters will remain closed until March 2021 following an agreement with the city.

By that time, many Prague theaters will have gone a full year without putting on their usual performances. All city-operated theaters, including the National Theatre and Prague Symphony Orchestra, as well as most of the city's larger independent venues, have signed the new agreement.

The agreement is intended to set a clear date for when spectators and employees can expect theaters to reopen, instead of trying to plan through uncertainty.

"We want to send a clear signal to all spectators that they do not have to constantly find out whether or not to buy and return tickets for unrealized performances," Prague City Councilor for Culture Hana Třeštíková stated in a press release.

"And also to employees of theaters who have been living through insecurity for many months."

According to Třeštíková, many local theaters are planning to schedule performances through next summer, when they traditionally have holidays, to recoup some of the time lost.

"It's not a happy decision and I appreciate all our principals who became crisis managers overnight," Třeštíková added.

"I believe that with the advent of the vaccine, theatrical and all cultural life will return to normal.“

While Prague theaters will remain closed through the next three months, spectators can still enjoy pre-recorded versions of many shows from the comfort of home via the Dramox platform. A Netflix-like streaming service for theatrical performances created by Czech entrepreneurs, most of the Dramox shows also include English subtitles.

Over the Christmas holidays, many Prague theaters will also stage special performances to be streamed online.

Prague theaters that have signed the new agreement including all city-operated venues as well as Švandovo divadlo, Divadlo pod Palmovkou, Divadlo Na zábradlí, Divadlo Minor, Prague City Theatre, Divadlo na Vinohradech, Studio Ypsilon, Divadlo v Dlouhé, Hudební divadlo v Karlíně, Divadlo v Dlouhé and Divadlo Spejbla a Hurvínka.