Prague Fringe Festival 22 to 30 May, Prague 1
Just because you have kids does not mean that you cannot take part in Prague’s very rich cultural and artistic scene. Now in its 8th year, the Prague Fringe Festival will entertain you with an impressive array of shows from around the globe featuring music, comedy, dance and the spoken word. As a frequent visitor to this festival I can guarantee that you will come across the exotic, strange and the bizarre and that you will be entertained, moved and amused. Staged over 9 nights in beautiful, balmy May, the festival offers 34 shows with a total of 190 performances in 7 easy-to-reach venues across historical Mala Strana.
The starting time for some of the cultural acts range from 6pm-7pm, which is usually when most of us are getting the kids finished with dinner and off to bed. But many of the adult-orientated performances at the Fringe Festival however, do not begin until 8, 9 or even 10pm, so you have plenty of time to get ready and even grab a bite to eat before the show. As the venues for each act are so close to one another, you can even fit in two shows in one night. Tickets are a steal at only 150 CZK each and every performance lasts exactly 60 minutes.
So, if you don’t have a baby-sitter yet and need to get one quickly, just contact one of the many baby-sitting agencies that exist around Prague (one reputable one that I use is Baby Agency) and take your partner or even a bunch of friends to at least one show of the Fringe Festival Praha.
During last year’s “Fringe”, together with my hubby and a small group of mates, we attended a total of 3 drama performances and saw one band play twice (yes, they were that good…and a bit cute too). I still remember all of the acts that we saw - each one was very different - but always stimulating and fun at the same time. We usually ate and had a few drinks after each show and got home feeling relaxed and happy (even in the knowledge that many of us would probably have to be up in the wee hours of the following morning tending to our off-spring).
If you are unfamiliar with the Mala Strana district here are some tips on where to eat or have a drink prior to some of the performances:
DIVADLO NA PRÁDLE - great café food and snacks out side of show times; Besední 3, Prague 1
U MALÉHO GLENA - salads, baked potatoes, pizzas and mexican food in the street level cafe; Karmelitská 23, Prague 1
NOI RESTAURANT - decent thai restaurant with beautiful interior and outdoor courtyard dining, also a great spot for cocktails; Újezd 19, Prague 1
If you would prefer that your kids enjoy the Fringe Festival Praha together with you, then you can still choose from one of the family-orientated music, dance or drama performances which generally start between 4.30pm – 6pm in the afternoon. Interestingly, ‘kid-friendly’ shows make up for more than half of the “Fringe’s” repertoire. These include:
1. The New Victorian Manifesto (28.5-30.5 from 4.30–5.30pm, Kavarna 3+1) – musical performance, for all ages
2. Dr. Brown Behaves (22.5-30.5 from 6–7pm, Kavarna 3+1) – comedy, for all ages
3. Katharine (22.5-24-5 from 6 -7pm, Divadlo Inspirace) – romantic comedy, for all ages
4. Mo(ve)ment /Mo(ve)ment meets Musicians (26.5-30.5 from 6–7pm & 30.5 4.30–5.30pm, Divadlo Na Pradle) – multidisciplinary theatre, for the whole family
5. Prague Soup (27.5-30.5 from 6–6.45pm, U Maleho Glena) – poetry, for all ages
6. La Sophia Talents’ – Charity Concert (28.5-29.5 from 6 to 7pm, Kostel sv. Jana Krititele Na Pradle) – Childrens’ music and singing, for the whole family
7. Red Peter (22.5-30.5 from 7.15-8.15pm, Divadlo Na Pradle-Kavarna) – theatre, for all ages
8. Storyville UK (26.5-30.5 from 7.15-8.15pm, U Maleho Glena) – musical performance, for all ages
9. Aupairky or The Au-pairs (25.5 & 28-30.5 from 7.30-8.30pm, Divadlo Inspirace) – comedy, for all ages
10. David Benson Sings Noel Coward (24.5-30.5 from 8-9pm, Kostel sv. Jana Krititele Na Pradle) – musical performance, for ages 14+
11. De huilende kers or The Crying Cherry (22.5-30.5 from 8.30- 9.30pm, A Studio Rubin) – theatre, comedy, physical theatre, for all ages
12. Decaffeinated Tragedy (22.5-27.5 from 8.45-9.45pm and 28.5-30.5 from 5.45-6.45pm, Divadlo Na Pradle-Kavarna) – drama, for all ages
13. Canarsie Suite-At the Edge of Vaudeville (22.5-30.5 from 9-10pm, Divadlo Inspirace) – vaudeville, for adults and young adults
14. Fine Line (26.5-28.5 from 9.30-10.30pm, Kostel sv. Jana Krititele Na Pradle) – musical performance, suitable for ages 12+
15. Tajne slunce or Hidden Sun (29.5-30.5 from 9.30-10.30pm, Kostel sv. Jana Krititele Na Pradle) – musical performance, for all ages
16. Songs of Love and Hope (24.5-25.5 from 9.30-10.30pm, Kostel sv. Jana Krititele Na Pradle) – musical performance, for all ages
17. Andi Neate (26.5-30.5 from 10.15-11.15pm, U Maleho Glena) – musical performance, for all ages
18. Cactus (22.5-23.5 & 26.5-30.5 at 10.30-11.30, Divadlo Inspirace) – comedy and physical theatre, for all ages
MAP of VENUES
A. Divadlo Na Prádle Besední 3, Malá Strana
B. Divadlo Na Prádle - Kavárna Besední 3, Malá Strana
C. Kostel sv. Jana Křtitele na Prádle Říční ul., Malá Strana
D. Kavárna 3+1 Plaská 10, Malá Strana
E. U Malého Glena Karmelitska 23, Malá strana
F. A Studio Rubín Malostranské naměstí 9, Malá Strana
G. Divadlo Inspirace, Malostranske Namesti, Malá Strana
WHEN: 22nd May to 30th May 2009
DIRECTIONS: By Metro: Take the green A line to Malostranska, most venues are a 10 to 15 minute walk from the metro stop, combine metro with the tram and you’ll be easy walking distance from all venues. By Tram: take numbers 12, 20 or 22 to Újezd, Hellicova or Malostranske Namesti tram stops or trams 6 or 9 to Újezd. Paid parking (CZK 50 per hour), is available at Malostranske Namesti.
TICKETS: 150 CZK (100 CZK on opening day of May 22nd). Pre-purchase at Ticketstream or by phone: + 420 224 263 049. Or get a Fringe Voucher - where you pay for 4 and get 1 ticket free. OR purchase at the Fringe Box Office, Divadlo Na Pradle, Besedni 3. Opening Hours are 11-5.30pm. Tickets also on sale at the door of each show (subject to availability). Students 50 CZK (ID required) and only available at the theatre door.
FURTHER INFORMATION: see http://www.fringe.cz
Ali on 22 May 2009 @ 03:26 PM
This is great!!! Thank you soooo much for all the info :-)))
(NB:The url for Ticketstream doesn’t work)
Larissa on 22 May 2009 @ 08:57 PM
Thanks Ali, I’ve fixed up that link to Ticketstream. Hope you’re able to make it to some of the events, it’s a nice little festival. If not, they have a Winter Fringe Festival which is smaller but just as good.