Experience the Magic of Summer: Open-Air Theatre Showcases Hilarious Comedies and Captivating Dramas

Shakespeare: A Blend of Seriousness and Fun

The Summer Shakespeare Festival is the oldest and largest outdoor theater event in Europe, showcasing works by William Shakespeare. You can enjoy individual performances from late June to early September in not just Prague, but also Brno, Ostrava, and the Slovak city of Bratislava. The schedule is filled with over 160 performances.

The premiere of Othello marks the start of festivities in Prague on June 25. The role of Othello will be portrayed by Robert Miklus, while Sara Sandeva will take on the role of Desdemona. For these two actors, this is a first-time performance at the Shakespeare Festival. The play’s most sinister character, the devious Iago, will be shared between two actors with prior festival experience, Jan Cina and Vojtěch Vodochodský.

In the Repertoire, you can expect to see returns of popular plays like Love’s Futile Pursuit, the comedy As You Like It, the dark drama Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. This year’s lineup has some beloved titles, along with one farewell performance. The enchanting comedy The Tempest, directed by the talented duo known as SKUTR, will have its final showing on August 30.

An Ostrava Production will bring its hit show, Evening of the Three Kings, which delighted the audience with its unique concept and stellar performances last year. The festival’s offerings will also include international guests. The Prague Shakespeare Company will present King Lear in its original format with Czech subtitles, and from Bratislava comes the premiere of The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Michal Vajdička, which will take place at Prague Castle.

In Prague, Shakespeare’s works are performed on the classic stage at the Supreme Purkrabstvo, while Brno stages them in the courtyard of Špilberk Castle, and Ostrava presents at Silesian Ostrava Castle.

Exciting Experiences at the Summer Baroque Festival in West Bohemia

Offering unique experiences at intriguing locations in the Pilsen Region, the Summer Baroque Festival takes place from June 7 to September 13, presenting performances at Baroque landmarks. It features classical music, theater, parades, dance events, traditional cuisine, presentations of Baroque perfumes, fashion shows, and a range of entertainment.

For instance, on Saturday June 14, there will be a Baroque feast at Čečovice Castle, where you can see sword fighters, enjoy a theatrical performance called “The Bride Sold, What Smetana Composed” by the theater company Jedeme k vám, watch children’s shows like Culinka, and take part in guided tours of Čečovice Castle. On Friday June 20, Baroque Midsummer Night in Klatovy will take place. The Baroque gardens of the castle in Svojšín will host a garden festival over the weekend of June 28-29, 2025, while on Saturday 28, Music of Many Crafts in Plasy will also occur.

On July 11, visit Tachov for Baroque Joy. Attendees can expect stunning displays with Friesian horses, dance performances, theatrical shows, guided tours, a rehearsal of Baroque costumes, a concert featuring organ music, and an impressive display of Baroque fireworks.

On August 9, Manětín Castle will be transformed for a Baroque Day aimed at families. Here, families can engage in games, enjoy theater performances, take carriage rides, see sword fighters, and participate in many more activities. The current design of the castle results from a complete Baroque renovation following a devastating fire in 1712 that impacted the entire town center, including much of the Renaissance palace.

Summer Evenings at the Rotating Auditorium

Ceskokrumlovské Rotating Auditorium is known for presenting works by world-famous authors in the captivating natural setting of the castle gardens, ensuring an enchanting experience for all viewers. The summer theater season here began on June 3 and continues until September 7. Every performance is subtitled in German and English, making it accessible to visitors with hearing impairments as well. A total of 50 tablets equipped with subtitling software can be borrowed at the auditorium’s box office.

Before June 14, you can enjoy performances of Man of the Double Star, which tells the story of a flying man set in the enchanting atmosphere of historic baroque gardens. As the weeks progress, you can anticipate shows like Sense and Sensibility, Hercules, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sleeping Beauty, Messiah, and Decameron.

Wallenstein Summer in the Wallenstein Garden

The popular summer events known as Wallenstein Summer in the Senate started on May 15. Concerts take place every Thursday from 5:00 PM during the summer, continuing until September 25. Artists, music groups, and theater troupes from across the country perform in the Wallenstein Garden, supported by individual senators. A current list of concerts and other public events for the month can be found on the Senate website, and entry is traditionally free.

Operas Beyond Castles and Chateaus

Visit from July 24 to 27, and be enchanted as the garden of Kratochvíle Castle transforms into a magical space illuminated by candles and fire, creating a setting where stories and visuals from the Renaissance come to life. Audience members will get a taste of the aesthetics of Renaissance court festivals, which were remarkable highlights of social life where the religious, moral, and poetic ideals of the time took on visible form and celebratory flair. Throughout these four evenings titled And the Night Shall Be My Light, the gardens and interiors of the castle will resonate with music and poetry from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Actors, singers, and dancers will narrate captivating tales like the legend of the five-leaf Rose of Rosenberg, a mysterious story about a girl turning into a white doe, and tales of alchemists’ desires to unravel nature’s mysteries. A central figure in the evening will be the Mirror, guiding audiences through contemporary perspectives, illuminating the cosmic context of Renaissance symbolism, and inviting them to discover hidden secrets within the castle gardens.

We also invite you to Český Krumlov on June 27 for a delightful Baroque Night.

During the event, enjoy the enchanting French fairy-tale opera “Zemire et Azor” performed by the Capella Regia Prague.

On August 1 and 2, the opera Rusalka will take place on the pond in Chuchelna, Semily. This opera tells the fairy tale of the water fairy Rusalka, who leaves her safe lake home in search of love with a prince. This project is arranged by ing. Roman Špidlen, the owner of the Chuchelna Garden Centre, who together with his colleagues and friends, designed and constructed the whole area as part of a horticultural endeavor.