Prague's National Theatre celebrates start of 2021/22 season

The National Theatre in Prague will officially ring in the start of the new 2021-2022 season this Wednesday, September 1, with outdoor festivities at the nearby Střelecký Island from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

All ensembles of the National Theatre will participate in the event, which will include a market with clothing from the Theatre's artists, workshops for children and adults, and discussions with actors and other members of the theater company.

The free-to-attend event will also feature a preview performance of Sleeping Beauty, a ballet by Márcia Haydée based on Charles Perrault’s classic fairy tale that will have its Czech premiere later in the month.

The festivities will also include multiple competitions for prizes, and a stand with promotional items from the National Theatre.

"There will also be a bazaar with clothing from artists, the proceeds of which will once again be used to plant new trees," National Theatre spokesperson Tomáš Staněk told CTK.

"The opportunity to see beautiful costumes from the magnificent classical ballet Sleeping Beauty, which will have its Czech premiere on September 16 at the State Opera, will come as part of a special performance that will culminate in a photo shoot with the dancers."

Additional performances will include selections from Engelbert Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel during a workshop for children, and arias from The Barber of Seville performed by National Theatre soloists.

The event will culminate with an evening concert featuring performances by Základní kameny úrazu, a band featuring the National Theatre's musical stars, along with Tripleshot Jam.

The National Theatre operates numerous venues across the Czech capital. In addition to the historic National Theatre building and adjacent Nová scéna (New Scene), the company also stages performances at the Estates Theatre and State Opera.

A small island on the Vltava River adjacent to the main National Theatre building, Střelecký Island has long been utilized for the Theatre's outdoor festivities. The island's name, translated in English as Shooter's Island, comes from its use as the site of archery competitions around the 14th century.