AuthorMartin Hladík

On the occasion of the Independent Czechoslovak State Day, on Monday, October 27, 2025, President Petr Pavel, together with the First Lady Mrs. Eva Pavlova, received members of the diplomatic corps at Prague Castle.

Watch the Video with the speech of President Petr Pavel, and of H.E. Most Reverend Jude Thaddeus Okolo, and highlights from the reception.

As a part of the Month of Serbian Culture in Prague 2025, the folk Tang Ensemble and the Songs of Serbia Round KOLO, had a magnificent show at the beautiful “Divadlo Na Vinohradech” in Prague.

Watch the Video with highlights from this magnificent show.

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

Czechia commemorates the 107th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia on October 28 with traditional ceremonies and the president’s evening award gala at Prague Castle. 48 individuals will receive state honors for their contributions to culture, science, and public life. The ceremony continues a thirty-year tradition of modern Czech state decorations established under Václav Havel in 1995.

The evening ceremony in Prague Castle’s Vladislav Hall is the symbolic high point of the Independence Day celebrations.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Národní muzeum / Hradní fotoarchiv

The Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK traditionally marks Czechoslovak Independence Day with a concert featuring Smetana’s cycle of symphonic poems My Country (Má vlast). The concert takes place every year on October 28 in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House where Czechoslovak independence was declared in 1918. The FOK has been performing this magnificent opus for the Republic for sixteen years. This year’s Concert for the Republic by the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK will be conducted by its new chief conductor, Tomáš Netopil.

My Homeland is a cycle of six symphonic poems composed between 1874 and 1879 by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Profimedia

British pop artist Calum Scott wowed fans in Prague this week with a highly anticipated performance at the O2 Universum, delivering everything from energetic pop songs to emotional ballads.

Tuesday’s show was part of Scott’s worldwide The Avenoir Tour, named for his third studio album that he released earlier this month.

See more here.

Photo: Bára Vránová, Czech Radio

In Czechia, many statues commemorate the Czech patron saint St. Wenceslaus. However, an important depiction of him can also be found in the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna – and now, after more than 300 years, it is finally complete again.

The statue of St.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we explore Braník Rocks, the striking limestone cliffs that rise above the Vltava River in southern Prague. Once quarried for the “Old Town lime” that helped build the city’s bridges and embankments, the site now reveals layers of history reaching back 420 million years. It’s a place where fossils, wartime tunnels, and today’s climbers all share the same ancient stone — a vivid meeting of nature, history, and urban life.

Getting off the tram at Přístaviště — which literally means “the river harbour” — you find yourself on the edge of the city’s southern district of Braník.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Czechia’s unemployment rate fell to 3% in September from 3.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

A photo that made front pages: Šimon Malý, aged nine, received the Medal for Bravery from President Petr Pavel. He demonstrated remarkable courage when he towed his grandfather to the shore after he lost consciousness while swimming.

See more here.

Photo: Profimedia

Prominent human rights lawyer and head of Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties Oleksandra Matviichuk came to Prague in October to speak at Forum 2000. In her words, her mission was to bring the human dimension of the war in Ukraine back to Czech audiences, but also anyone who would listen, because she felt it had been lost. With experience documenting Russian atrocities in Ukraine, she shares what led her to become a human rights lawyer, the limitations of international institutions, and the resilience of ordinary people.

First, I want to start with a bit of background.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Jan Beneš, Czech Radio

A new book titled “Executed for Political Reasons in Communist Czechoslovakia” brings to light the stories of nearly three hundred people executed between 1948 and 1989. The richly documented publication includes hundreds of period records and photographs, not only of the executed but also of their executioners, some of which had never before been published.

The issue of political executions during the Communist era has long attracted the attention of both experts and the general public.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová, Jan Beneš

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

On Czech Independence Day, President Petr Pavel awarded the country’s highest honours at Prague Castle. Among those recognised were Czech Radio journalist Martin Dorazín, actor Zdeněk Svěrák, tennis legend Martina Navrátilová, and late nuclear-safety chief Dana Drábová. The awards celebrated exceptional service to the Czech state in culture, sport, security, science and civic life.

President Petr Pavel marked the anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia on 28 October with the traditional state award ceremony at Prague Castle, recognising individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Czech society.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Silvie Pospíšilová, Czech Radio

If you love the smell of gasoline, the roar of engines, and the iconic Harley Davidson motorcycle brand then you should consider paying a trip to the Harley-Davidson Museum in Otrokovice. Spread over two floors, it showcases fifty gleaming examples of the iconic brand — the largest of its kind in Central Europe.

Richard Banát from Otrokovice, near Zlín, was a motorcycle fan from the age of 10 when he rode a Czechoslovak-made Pionýr (ultralight 50cc motorcycle) .

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Czech Television

In the very heart of Brno, the Czech Republic’s second-largest city, a monumental equestrian statue of Margrave Jošt of Luxembourg has stood since 2015. The eight-meter-tall bronze sculpture by acclaimed Czech artist Jaroslav Róna was meant to honor courage—one of the four classical virtues symbolically represented on Moravské náměstí. Instead, it became a viral sensation.

While the artist intended a modern interpretation of a classic equestrian monument, the public saw it differently.

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Photo: Tomáš Kalous, Strom roku

An ancient oak from the village of Peruc, near the northern Bohemian town of Louny, has been crowned Tree of the Year 2025. Known as Oldřich’s Oak, it is among the oldest trees in Czechia, estimated to be around 1,000 years old.

According to legend, it was under this majestic tree that Duke Oldřich first laid eyes on Božena, a humble washerwoman.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

One of Czechia’s most distinctive jewellery designers, Zdeněk Vacek currently has a sensational retrospective of his quarter-century career at Prague’s Museum of Decorative Arts. Vacek, a goldsmith by trade, was previously known for his work under the name Zorya with then life partner Daniel Pošta but now operates solo, mainly producing tailor-made pieces for often affluent clients. I spoke to him at the exhibition.

What brought you to the whole world of being a goldsmith and designing and making jewellery?.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

On the occasion of the 2025 Austrian National Day, H.E. Dr. Bettina Kirnbauer, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Czech Republic and M.Sc. Roman Rauch, the Trade Council of the Embassy, and Dr. Erwin Hanslik Mrics, President of the Association of Austrians in the Czech Republic, hosted a reception at the Beautiful Žofín Palace in Prague center.

The guest of honor was Mr. Petr Pavel, the President of the Czech Republic.

Watch the video of the speeches of H.E. Dr. Bettina Kirnbauer, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Czech Republic, Mr. Petr Pavel, the President of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Landesrat Leonhard Schneemann, Minister of the regional government of Burgenland.

Happy National Day Austria – Alles Gute zum Nationalfeiertag Österreich

On the occasion of the Hungarian National Day and the Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution, the Ambassador of Hungary to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. András Baranyi, hosted a reception at the beautiful Břevnov monastery.

Mgr. Radek Vondráček – the 8^th Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, was the Honored speaker.

Mr. Vaclav Klaus, the 2^nd previous President of the Czech Republic, was the honored guest.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of Hungary to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. András Baranyi ( in English and in Czech), and of Mgr. Radek Vondráček – the 8^th Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic.

Happy National Day Hungary – Boldog Magyarország ünnepét

Argentina Embassy in Prague, the Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents of the Czech Republic (ACCKA), Destino Argentina, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship of the Argentine Republic, organized a seminar “Argentina Unveiled” at the Argentina Embassy in Prague.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the Czech Republic, Kateřina Chaloupková, Executive Director AČCKA, Lenka Fidranská, Development Manager AČCKA, and the presentation of the Destino Argentina Association.

A beautiful county, which is a special destination for a great holiday.

The South African Embassy in Prague, the Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents of the Czech Republic (ACCKA), organized a seminar “South Africa: Inspiring new ways” at the Beautiful Residence of the South African Ambassador in Prague.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Ms. Mosa Ditty SEJOSINGOE, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Czech Republic, and Lenka Fidranská, Development Manager AČCKA.

A presentation by Turkish Airlines marketing in Prague, and HOW – House of Wine from South Africa.

The seminar was moderated by Ms. Namhla Neliswa GIGABA, Counsellor  /Political Affairs at the South African embassy.

It was a very interesting and happy seminar.

You can read our report “Out of Africa” :

https://www.czechleaders.com/insights/out-of-africa-part-one/

https://www.czechleaders.com/insights/out-of-africa-part-two/

On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the President of the Republic, Mr. Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary at Prague Castle:

H.E. Mr. Karim Khalil, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lebanon, based in Prague.

H.E. Mr. Nicholas Andrew Merrick, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, based in Prague.

H.E. Mr. Vladimir Adolfo Franco Sousa, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Panama, based in Berlin.

H.E. Mr. Augusto Artur António Da Silva, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, based in Lisbon.

We already know that this year’s Pražák Quartet Festival will be unforgettable. Two concerts are behind us, and each one was a true celebration of music. Those who were there know how magical the atmosphere was in the Hlahol Hall. But it’s not too late! Three more extraordinary evenings await us, promising further musical experiences. The Pražák Quartet and their guests will provide moments that will captivate you, thrill you, and linger in your heart for a long time to come.

Every concert is special. Whether you were there at the beginning of the festival or are just getting ready to go, now is the time to secure your spot. Because you, too, can also share one of those magical memories!

24.10. 2025 19:30 – Pražák Quartet & Kelley O’Connor & Francois Dumont

This time, the program will focus primarily on vocal works, in a sensitive combination of voice and piano. The piano accompaniment will be provided by the internationally renowned French pianist François Dumont, whose refined performance will enhance the intimate atmosphere of the evening.

25.10. 2025 19:30 – Closing ceremony

The closing concert of the festival will be a real musical treat. The audience will have the opportunity to hear the world premiere of a new string quartet by the talented young composer and cellist Tomas Prechal, a 21-year-old artist with Dutch-Czech roots who is already gaining international recognition. Tomas will be present in the auditorium to hear his work performed in front of an audience for the first time.

Don’t miss the finale of the first edition of the Pražák Quartet & Friends festival – two extraordinary concerts filled with music, emotion, and inspiration awaits you. Tickets are available online and at the door.

31 October – 30 November 2025

Venues: BFI IMAX, The Coronet Theatre, Czech Centre & Czech Embassy, Church House, The Garden Cinema, Holy Sepulchre, ICA, Regent Street Cinema, Royal Opera House, Royal Academy of Music, Victoria & Albert Museum

Returning for its 29th edition, the renowned Made in Prague Festival offers a vibrant showcase of Czech culture featuring film, music, literature, theatre, and visual art. Highlights include UK premieres of award-winning films fresh from international festivals, along tributes to composer Leoš Janáček. With unique theatre performances and art exhibitions in the mix, the festival channels the richness and creativity of the contemporary Czech cultural scene to London audiences.

“The 29^th edition of the Made in Prague Festival celebrates the vibrancy, talent, and creativity of Czech culture in its many forms and genres. From an exhibition at the Royal Opera House centred on Janáček’s opera The Makropulos Case staged alongside the Royal Opera’s first ever production of this great Czech masterpiece, to the virtuosity of young pianists and dazzling pop performances; from internationally acclaimed selections of Czech contemporary cinema to a joint exhibition of Czech and British visual artists — this year’s festival truly offers it all. Over four weeks in November, Made in Prague will not only present an exciting and diverse programme, but also create countless opportunities for encounters, artistic discoveries, and cross-cultural dialogue between Czech culture and British audiences.”  Přemysl Pela, Director of the Czech Centre

29^TH MADE IN PRAGUE FESTIVAL – PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

MUSIC

On 31 October, the 29^th Made in Prague Festival opens in style with a dazzling performance by Aiko, a UK-based, internationally acclaimed Czech singer who became the first Czech artist to light up Times Square.

On a classical note, the festival is particularly pleased to be collaborating with the Royal Ballet and Opera to present a carefully curated exhibition titled Leoš Janáček: The Makropulos Case. With archival photographs, Janáček’s autographs, and Josef Čapek’s set designs, the exhibition is staged alongside the Royal Opera’s first ever production of this great Czech masterpiece under the baton of the newly appointed Music Director of the Royal Opera, Jakub Hrůša, offering a powerful addition to the opera, but equally suitable to be explored on its own. Displayed at the Linbury Studio’s Foyer at the Royal Opera House,
1 – 30 November.

Rounding off the topic of The Makropulos Case is yet another exhibition celebrating the extraordinary operatic world of the most internationally performed Czech composer.

Leoš Janáček and His Operas, shown at the public space outside the Czech Embassy (31 October – 30 November), showcases rare archival materials and striking contemporary images, inviting audiences to discover Janáček’s enduring legacy.

Moving on from past to future, the festival presents Future Tones – Young Talent Concert, an impressive showcase of the Czech Republic’s brightest young pianists. Five pianists, aged between 13 and 18 years and already captivating audiences far beyond their age, will take stage at the Royal Academy of Music on Saturday 8 November, offering an exclusive sneak peek into the exceptional talent of the new generation of classical music.

The festival’s musical programme will culminate on 30 November at Holy Sepulchre with a gala concert by acclaimed Czech violinist Pavel Šporcl, performing on his signature blue violin alongside members of the English Chamber Orchestra.

VISUAL ART

Launching the festival on 31 October are two interconnected exhibitions aiming to reshape our understanding of breathing. Housed at the Bouda Gallery in Notting Hill, ‘Breathing’ with ‘Breaths – Air Bladders’ displays artwork and research findings by Czech artist Filomena Borecká. Central to the exhibition is Borecká’s breathing sculpture Air Bladders made of recycled hot-air balloon fabric that inflates in response to the viewer’s presence.

Complementing Borecká’s long-standing work dedicated to breath, the neighbouring Vitrínka gallery lends its space to Silent Systems: Breathing Devices, a group exhibition featuring Borecká’s work alongside pieces by four international, UK-based artists: Evar Huseyni, Appau Junior Boakye-Yiadom, Esther Gaton, and Henrique J. Paris.

THEATRE

On 24 November, the festival returns to The Coronet Theatre with Solo, an award-winning tour de force by Radim Vizváry – acclaimed Czech mime, director, choreographer, and Artistic Director of Laterna Magica Prague. Hailed around the world, this spellbinding performance takes audiences on a journey through the full spectrum of pantomime. Visually striking, deeply human, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, Solo is a masterclass in wordless storytelling — timeless, daring, and unforgettable.

FILM

The festival’s film programme opens with the long-anticipated UK premiere of Jiří Mádl’s historical drama WAVES screening at BFI IMAX on Saturday 9 November.
Winner of Satellite Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the most watched film in Czech cinemas last year, Waves tells the true story of the Czechoslovak Radio journalists who risked everything to deliver independent news during the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. A gripping political drama, but also a powerful reminder that free speech is worth fighting for. Followed by Q&A with director Jiří Mádl, lead actress Tatiana Pauhofová and producer Monika Kristl.

On Saturday 15 November, the festival presents the UK premiere of Zuzana Kirchnerová’s acclaimed feature directorial debut CARAVAN, screened at the beautiful Regent Street Cinema straight from its well-received international premiere at the Cannes Festival. An intimate road drama, Caravan follows a burned-out mother Ester as she embarks on an Italian road trip with her intellectually disabled son, David. Based on Kirchnerová’s personal experience as a parent, the film is an authentically poignant exploration of the complexities of motherhood, adolescence, and societal perception of disability. Followed by Q&A with director Zuzana Kirchnerová and actress Anna Geislerová.

Closing off the festival’s trio of critically praised contemporary features will be the screening of GIRL AMERICA at The Garden Cinema on Tuesday 18 November. Telling the story of an orphaned girl in totalitarian Czechoslovakia, director Viktor Tauš crafts a vivid and emotionally charged journey of resilience and hope – an exceptional film in the tradition of Czech auteur cinema. Followed by Q&A with director Viktor Tauš.

From the documentary programme, highlights include the UK premiere of ACTRESS, an unconventional portrait of one of Czech Republic’s greatest screen and stage icons, Iva Janžurová. Directed by Janžurová’s daughter Theodora Remundová, this is an intimate insight into a life lived entirely in the spotlight. Screens at the Regent Street Cinema on Saturday 22 November. Followed by Q&A with actress Iva Janžurová and director Theodora Remundová.

Moving to the ICA on 30 November, the festival presents a deeply inspiring documentary I’M NOT EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE by Czech filmmaker Klára Tasovská. Chosen as Czech Republic’s entry for 2026 Oscars, the film explores identity, freedom, and inner defiance through the dramatic life of Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, created exclusively from Jarcovjáková‘s private diaries and thousands of analogue photographs. Followed by Q&A with Libuše Jarcovjáková.
On Saturday 29 November, Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková will also join an international line-up across three panels on climate change, global exchange, and inherited memory, to discuss how photography and visual practices reshape ideas about Eastern Europe today. Part of V&A’s symposium Fluid Futures: Recalibrating Land and History in Global Eastern Europe.

For audiences unable to attend cinema screenings, the Made in Prague Festival has partnered with the BFI Player to introduce three Czech classics as part of the 3 You Must See programme: Hugo Haas’s anti-fascist WHITE DISEASE (1937), adapted from Karel Čapek’s play; Jindřich’s Polák’s RIDERS OF THE SKY (1968) saluting Czechoslovak RAF airmen; and Jaroslav Papoušek’s iconic comedy ECCE HOMO HOMOLKA (1969), wildly considered the final gem of the Czechoslovak New Wave.

For PRESS QUERIES, IMAGES and INTERVIEW REQUESTS contact Veronika Blues: blues@czechcentre.org.uk

The Made in Prague Festival is a vibrant celebration of contemporary Czech culture showcasing film, music, visual art, theatre, and literature.
Organised by the Czech Centre annually since 1997, it serves as a bridge, transcending borders, and bringing diverse and captivating Czech cultural encounters to audiences in London and across the country. #MadeInPragueFestival

Full festival programme: https://bit.ly/29thMadeInPragueFestival

Photo: Kateřina Šulová, ČTK

Born in 1929, Dita Kraus lived through the horrors of the Holocaust and went on to build a new life in the young state of Israel. Her story — from a Prague childhood to Terezín, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen — became a lasting symbol of courage and resilience. She called Czechoslovakia and Israel her “two imperfect homelands,” forever linked by memory and loss. Dita Kraus passed away on October 18, 2025.

When the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, ten-year-old Dita Polachová’s world changed overnight.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Illustrative photo: Filip Jandourek, Czech Radio

Short-stay travellers from outside Europe can expect stricter border checks when entering the Schengen Area after the introduction of the European Entry/Exit System (EES). Czechia is among the first countries to fully implement the system, which aims to speed up border crossings and curb illegal migration.

The EES is a new EU-wide biometric system designed to log the time and place of entry and exit of non-EU short-stay travellers to the Schengen Area – a zone of 29 European countries with open internal borders, including most EU member states as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Ondřej Bouška, Grand Prix Architektů

This year’s National Architecture Award was awarded to the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, designed by Jan Říčný, in Nesvačilka near Brno. The Association of Architects, which has organized the competition since 1993, announced the winners on Monday.

The cylindrical, 25-meter-high wooden chapel in Nesvačilka, which cost approximately CZK 24 million, was largely funded by religious believers and consecrated last year.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

The latest Czechast tells the story of two remarkable women — Barbara Day and Nancy Durham — who risked much to help Czech intellectual life survive under communism. Through the Jan Hus Educational Foundation, they built bridges between British academics and dissident scholars in Czechoslovakia. Their courage and empathy show how even small acts of solidarity can shape freedom and education.

In the 1980s, when Czechoslovakia was still under communist rule, education and philosophy often took place in secret.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Eva Kézrová, Czech Radio

Czechia has sent new seed samples to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, adding to the 1,973 Czech samples already stored there. The seeds serve as a backup in case the country ever loses its own reserves.

The Czech Gene Bank at the National Agricultural and Food Research Centre sent 150 new seed samples to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan, Eva Kézrová

Photo: Tomáš Vodňanský, Czech Radio

Six cities across Czechia have inspired a new project called Music on Request, created by Czech Radio’s Vltava station and the Prague Quiet Music Collective. Seven composers have transformed everyday tram rides, bus commutes, and metro journeys into contemporary classical pieces. To learn more, I spoke with musician and composer Ian Mikyska, the artistic director of the Prague Quiet Music Collective, who initiated the project.

First of all, Ian, how did the idea for Music on Request come about?.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Tomáš Vodňanský, Czech Radio

A new work by Czech artist Krištof Kintera has been unveiled on Prague’s Štvanice Island. Praying Wood, a large kneeling figure resembling driftwood, is actually cast in aluminium with a silver coating. The sculpture was created at the initiative of the Bohemian Heritage Fund in collaboration with the Prague City Gallery. Ruth Fraňková attended the unveiling and spoke with the artist about his latest work.

We are standing here in front of your freshly installed statue called Praying Wood.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Palle Knudsen, Pixabay, Pixabay License

On Monday, Prague city councilors voted to terminate lease agreements for spaces used by horse-drawn carriage operators, known as fiakers. These have been excluded from market regulations since 2023, and according to some city officials, they have been operating illegally ever since.

The lease agreement, which was first signed in 1994, will be terminated immediately.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Jaroslav Svoboda, ČTK

This autumn has shown its full strength with the first freezing temperatures of the season. Seventeen weather stations recorded record lows. Near the village of Veverka in the Třebíč region, observers could even witness an optical phenomenon known as a halo, formed in the atmosphere by the refraction of light and ice crystals.

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Photo: Klára Stejskalová, Radio Prague International

The Ministry of Education cooperates with dozens of Czech schools abroad that help expats maintain their language and stay connected to Czech culture. What role do these schools play, what kind of support do they receive, and what challenges do they face?

Czech expat communities are scattered the world over and their desire to stay connected to their roots is strong.

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Author: Klára Stejskalová

Photo: Czech Television

After years of debate, Czech farmers will no longer be allowed to keep hens in cages. In 2020, Czechia passed a law banning the cage farming of laying hens, with the ban set to take effect in 2027. Similar measures have already been implemented by several other European Union countries.

One of the farms that will be affected by the legislation is in Kosičky, in the Hradec Králové region.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Radek Lavička, MFDF Ji.hlava

The 29th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival begins on Friday, featuring over 300 documentary films from around the world. Radio Prague International spoke with the festival’s director, Marek Hovorka, about the stories filmmakers choose to tell and how they bring them to life at this year’s edition.

“Documentary filmmaking is in very good shape today.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Archive of Danny Bate

Danny Bate, a former member of Radio Prague and linguist, has just published his first book, titled Why Q Needs U. In it, he dives into the history of the English alphabet and invites readers to see language as a collaborative project shaped by its speakers from day to day. The self-taught Czech speaker, writer, and perennial Czechophile, also shares practical advice for learning the language, including how to master the notoriously difficult ‘ř’ sound.

Jakub Ferenčík: I’m here with former colleague Danny Bate to my right, and to my left, my present colleague, Juan Mutoni from the Spanish department [at Radio Prague].

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Lukáš Hurník, Czech Radio

Kateřina Englichová is one of the most sought after European harpists of her generation. She has appeared on stages in world capitals including New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Rome and Paris, performing with leading ensembles and artists such as Mstislav Rostropovitch, Josef Suk, and Cynthia Phelps.

The great-granddaughter of Johana Cavallarová, a soubrette at the National Theatre in Prague and granddaughter of Vladimír Weiss a gifted architect, painter, and pianist, Katerina Englichova inherited a passion for music and the discipline required to make her a top-notch artist.

See more here.

Illustrative photo: ČTK

On October 19, 1945, the first organised transport of settlers to the Czech borderlands left from Prague. This marked the beginning of a large-scale post-war effort to resettle areas that had been left deserted after the expulsion of the German-speaking population.

The resettlement of the borderlands was not only a practical step towards rebuilding the country but also a strongly ideologically driven project.

See more here.

Photo: East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice

A 3,000-year-old bronze vessel, one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in Czechia, will soon go on display at Pardubice Castle. It is the largest example of its kind preserved intact in Europe, and possibly even in the world. The exhibition space was designed by the famous architect Eva Jiřičná.

The rare Bronze Age vessel was discovered in 2017 in the village of Kladina near the eastern Bohemian town of Pardubice.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Profimedia

World opera legend Plácido Domingo gave a highly-anticipated concert in the Dvořák Hall of the Prague Rudolfinum on Thursday night. His rendition of famous opera arias by Verdi and Puccini, as well as vibrant Spanish zarzuelas, won him a standing ovation.

Plácido Domingo first performed in Prague in 1990, just months after the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia and right around the time when the super trio “The Three Tenors” was born: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras.

See more here.

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Zuzana Stivínová is a well-known Czech actress. She played one of the main roles in the stage version of Václav Havel’s Leaving in 2007 and today is most commonly to be found on the boards of the National Theatre in Prague. She has also worked with such screen directors as Věra Chytilová and Miloš Forman, and starred in the acclaimed TV drama Wasteland. Stivínová, who comes from an artistic background, also spent several years living in New York in the 2010s.

Your father Jiří Stivín is a famous flautist.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

The Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig and the Cinema Lucerna organized the Opening of the 14^th Annual Argentine Film Festival and the screening of the film “El Robo del Siglo”.

The very interesting and full of humor film was screened in its original Spanish version with English and Czech subtitles.

Watch the speech of H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig, the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic in the Czech Republic, and of Mr. Jan Rybar, about the festival and the film.

The Embassy of Malaysia in Prague organized a cultural event, “Malaysia Experience”

Malaysia Experience is designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Malaysia through curated exhibitions, cultural performances, food tastings, and video screenings.

The event highlights Malaysia’s national symbols, traditional dress, natural treasures, iconic architecture, and UNESCO-recognized wonders. It promises an immersive and engaging journey for both those well-acquainted with Malaysia and those discovering it for the first time.

The event took place at the Atrium Zizkov, Prague 3

Watch the Video with the welcome speech by Ms. SITI HAJAR BINTI MOHD ZAINUDDIN, and highlights from the cultural performance.

The Embassy of Italy in Prague, in collaboration with the Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce, organized a debate “Women in Business”, a series of initiatives designed to support Italian Female Entrepreneurship.

This event focused on promoting women’s management, with a spotlight on labour market access and successful stories in the field.

The event took place at the beautiful Italian Embassy in Prague – Mala Strana.

Counsellor Ms. Laura Calligaro – welcome the guest and moderate the round table with:

Ms. Petra Silovska – Ministry of Labour of the Czech Republic

Ms. Elena Silvano – Chief Distribution & Marketing Officer at the Generali Group in CEE

Ms. Lucie Rehakova – Product manager of Transaction Forensics at Resistant AI

The closing remarks were by Ms. Eva Horelova, EU Commission in Prague.

Watch the Video with highlights from Ms. Laura Calligaro’s welcome speech and a few pictures from this interesting event

On Monday, October 13, 2025, at Prague Castle, the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary:

• HE Mr. Amir Weissbrod, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel, based in Prague

• HE Mr. Simon Biedermann, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Principality of Liechtenstein, based in Vienna

• HE Mr. Muhammad Zulqar Nain, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, based in Berlin

• HE Ms. Stanica Anđić,  the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Montenegro, based in Vienna.

photo: Tomáš Fongus, KPR

Festival is in full swing! Two concerts behind us, three ahead of us – and each one is worth experiencing!

We already know that this year’s Pražák Quartet Festival will be unforgettable. Two concerts are behind us, and each one was a true celebration of music. Those who were there know how magical the atmosphere was in the Hlahol Hall. But it’s not too late! Three more extraordinary evenings await us, promising further musical experiences. The Pražák Quartet and their guests will provide moments that will captivate you, thrill you, and linger in your heart for a long time to come.

Every concert is special. Whether you were there at the beginning of the festival or are just getting ready to go, now is the time to secure your spot. Because you, too, can also share one of those magical memories!

18.10. 2025 19:30 – Pražák Quartet & Kelley O’Connor

This evening offers a unique opportunity to experience the Czech premiere of a work by one of Sweden’s most important contemporary composers, Anders Hillborg, who will be present in person at the performance. Also performing will be the leading American mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor, whose expression and voice are among the most respected on the world stage.

24.10. 2025 19:30 – Pražák Quartet & Kelley O’Connor & Francois Dumont

This time, the program will focus primarily on vocal works, in a sensitive combination of voice and piano. The piano accompaniment will be provided by the internationally renowned French pianist François Dumont, whose refined performance will enhance the intimate atmosphere of the evening.

25.10. 2025 19:30 – Closing ceremony

The closing concert of the festival will be a real musical treat. The audience will have the opportunity to hear the world premiere of a new string quartet by the talented young composer and cellist Tomas Prechal, a 21-year-old artist with Dutch-Czech roots who is already gaining international recognition. Tomas will be present in the auditorium to hear his work performed in front of an audience for the first time.

Photo: Signal Festival

The popular Signal Festival will once again light up the streets of Prague. Known for its breath-taking displays that bring buildings to life, Signal has become the most visited cultural event in the Czech Republic. Now in its 13th year, the festival will present 20 installations across Prague, combining contemporary visual art with urban space and modern technology. Radio Prague International spoke to the festival’s director, Martin Pošta, about what the festival has to offer.

“The Signal Festival is an annual event that takes place in the streets of Prague for four nights, October 16 to 19.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Tomáš Fongus, Office of the President of the Republic

Czech President Petr Pavel delivered a speech at the Forum 2000 international conference in Prague on Monday. He addressed the security threat posed by Russia, which, according to Pavel, aims to dismantle Europe step by step. “Russia poses a fundamental threat to European freedom, security, and democracy,” the president stated.

This year’s 29th edition of the conference focuses on Ukraine, technology, and strengthening democratic ties at a time when, according to the organizers, democracy faces unprecedented internal contradictions, growing authoritarianism, the spread of disinformation, and the rapid pace of technological change.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Koridor UA

Through the work of the Czech NGO Koridor UA, we take a look at what everyday life is like in parts of Ukraine and what it means to help on the ground. How do fishnets help save lives? How have humanitarian needs evolved since the beginning of the war? How can a comparatively small Czech NGO have a big impact? And what motivates volunteers?

Koridor UA is a Czech NGO and though smaller than many other organizations, it plays a crucial role in delivering aid directly to those in need.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit one of Prague’s most fascinating green spaces — the Botanical Garden of Charles University. Founded in 1775, it’s the oldest continuously operating garden of its kind in the Czech Republic. Today, it combines centuries of academic tradition with the peaceful charm of a public park right in the heart of the city.

There are three main botanical gardens in Prague — the large city-run one in Troja, the smaller school garden in Malešice, and this one, tucked away on Na Slupi Street beneath the Albertov campus.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Šárka Rusnáková, iROZHLAS.cz

Archaeologists in Dašice in Pardubice have discovered the remains of a village dating back approximately three thousand years. The find comes from a rescue excavation at the site of a planned new logistics hall in the southern part of the town.

The head of the Archaeological Department of the Czech Museum in Pardubice, Tomáš Zavoral, guides Czech Radio through the remains of what would have been a house built roughly 3,000 years ago in the newly-discovered settlement:.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Pavel Němec, Frankfurtský knižní veletrh

This year’s Frankfurt Book Fair – the largest of its kind in the world – holds special significance for Czechia, as it prepares to take over the 2026 Guest of Honour title. Radio Prague International spoke with Martin Krafl, director of the Czech Literary Centre, who is in Frankfurt for the event and knows more.

“In exactly 12 months the Czech Republic will be the main Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Martin Polívka, MAFRA/ Profimedia

The Plzeň regional court has ordered the removal of a statue of St. James standing on a pedestrian bridge above the main road from Plzeň to Karlovy Vary. Ever since its installation it has alarmed drivers who believe they are seeing someone about to commit suicide.

The statue, which was installed just a few weeks ago, was to have been the pride of the Chotíkov municipality, admired from near and far.

See more here.

Photo: Prague City Museum

The Vanished Bells (“Zaniklé Zvony”) project, a collaboration between Czech Radio and Wikimedia Czech Republic, has been launched online to preserve Czech cultural heritage. It focuses on recording and digitizing the sounds of historic bells, many of which are tied to early 20th-century Czech history, including those that were repurposed during the Second World War for the war effort.

The initiative was started by sound engineer Miloslav Turek, who realized that sound recordings of bells from the early 1940s, captured during a time of national turmoil, were invaluable.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Till Janzer

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Sparks of Freedom — that is the name of a new exhibition at Brno’s Moravian Museum. It tells how British academics and intellectuals reached across the Iron Curtain to support Czech dissidents in the 1980s, focusing on the work of the Jan Hus Educational Foundation and the quiet acts of courage that helped keep independent thought alive under communist rule.

In Brno’s Moravian Museum, visitors wander among black-and-white photographs showing faces of courage from the 1980s.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Gerd Altmann, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Matyáš Boháček is hailed as one of the most promising figures in Czech AI. He has been described as a genius and a “wunderkind” of Czech science, which comes as little surprise given the achievements of the young AI expert who graduated from high school in Prague just two years ago. In an interview with Radio Prague International, he shares a refreshingly optimistic view of the future of AI.

Matyáš Boháček coded his first website at the age of six – an online shop for his grandmother, with whom he enjoyed playing shopkeeper.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Vít Šimánek, ČTK

Several hundred motorsport fans turned out for Sunday’s ceremonial opening of the Central European Rally in central Prague. Representatives of three factory teams and leading Czech participants in the World Rally Championship took part in a parade drive through the city. President Petr Pavel, a great motorsport enthusiast, turned up for the event. The rally itself will take place from October 16- 19.

See more here.

Photo: David Vaughan, Radio Prague International

A new translation of one of the most important books in Czech literature, The Grandmother (Babička) by Božena Němcová, will be launched by the UK-based Jantar Publishing at the end of this month. It’s the work of Englishwoman Susan Reynolds, who previously produced an acclaimed translation of another Czech classic, Karel Jaromír Erben’s Kytice. I spoke to Reynolds about how she approached rendering The Grandmother (originally published in 1855) in English, its author’s pioneering spirit and more.

What led you to Czech in the first place? Your publisher, Mike Tate, tells me you came to Czech after many, many other languages.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Bohuslav Martinů Centre in Polička

The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, featuring acclaimed violinist Josef Špaček, presents Bohuslav Martinů’s Violin Concertos No. 1 and 2 on a new CD released by Supraphon.

The Czech record label Supraphon has just released a new CD featuring recordings of Bohuslav Martinů’s Violin Concertos alongside Igor Stravinsky’s Divertimento for Violin and Piano – all performed by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Tereza Rašová, Czech Radio

The Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre, one of the oldest professional puppet theatres in the world, will celebrate 80 years since its move to Prague on October 12, 2025. This iconic duo, strict father Spejbl and his curious son Hurvínek, has become a symbol of Czech humor and puppetry, winning the hearts of audiences both at home and abroad.

The theatre was founded in 1930 in the West Bohemian city of Plzeň by Josef Skupa, a prominent puppeteer and satirist.

See more here.

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

In a new episode of Czechast, we stay in Ostrava, once the proud industrial heart of Czechoslovakia. The city has faced tough decades since the fall of heavy industry, but new projects are giving it a fresh pulse. Among them is the University of Ostrava’s city campus — a symbol of how education and creativity can help renew even the most hard-hit regions.

Ostrava, long known for its coal mines, steelworks, and smokestacks, went through one of the most painful economic transformations in Czechia after the 1990s.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Collage: iROZHLAS.cz

A record number of young candidates won seats in the recent Czech parliamentary elections— a fourfold increase compared to the previous term. Why are young people suddenly gaining voter support? And what role do political youth organisations play in this?

Twelve candidates under the age of 30 were elected in the recent parliamentary elections (October 3-4, 2025).

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

On the occasion of the accession to the throne of HRH Grand Duke Guillaume, H.E. Mr. Ronald Dofing, the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, has hosted a festive concert of classic romantic songs from major European composers by Martin Vydra and Filip Martinka.

The event took place at the beautiful concert hall of the Czech Choral Association Hlahol, in Prague city centre. The prestigious venue, with its famous frescos by Alfons Mucha, provides the perfect setting for this solemn occasion.

Watch the Video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Ronald Dofing, the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and highlights from the festive concert of classic romantic songs from major European composers by the baritone Martin Vydra and Pianist Filip Martinka.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the President of the Republic, Mr. Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary at Prague Castle:

• H.E. Ms. Aliki Paschali, the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus, based in Prague.

• H.E. Ms. Snøfrid Byrløkken Emterud, the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway, based in Prague.

• H.E. Mr. Håkan Jevrell, the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden, based in Prague.

• H.E. Mr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hadhrami, the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Yemen, based in Prague.

• H.E. Mr. Orlando Leite Ribeiro, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil, based in Prague.

• H.E. Mr. Peter Matthias Reuss, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany, based in Prague.

Festival is in full swing! Two concerts behind us, three ahead of us – and each one is worth experiencing!

Get ready, Prague! A theatrical fire is about to ignite the city’s stage, and you have a front-row seat. Esteemed director Evren Odcikin is bringing his visionary touch to the European premiere of Lauren M. Gunderson’s Muse of Fire at the Prague Shakespeare Company. This isn’t just another play; it’s a rare theatrical event that promises to be one of the most talked-about performances of the season. If you hesitate, you’ll miss it.

Photo: Michal Kamaryt, ČTK

In the newly elected Czech Chamber of Deputies, nearly one-third of the members will be women – a historic high for the country. What role did preferential voting play in boosting female candidates? And how significant is this shift compared to previous elections?

In last weekend’s Czech parliamentary elections (October 3–4, 2025), 67 women were elected to the Chamber of Deputies – the highest number ever in Czech history.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Festival Moravský podzim

The annual international music festival Moravian Autumn gets underway this Sunday in the Moravian capital of Brno. This year’s edition marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Charles Mackerras, the world-renowned British conductor and lifelong champion of Czech music.

The opening concert of the 53rd Moravian Autumn Festival will begin with William Walton’s lively overture Portsmouth Point, a piece inspired by the bustle of a noisy harbour and often described as a real challenge for conductors.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: David Konečný, ČTK

Czech writer, playwright and former dissident Ivan Klíma has died at the age of 94. One of the most widely translated Czech authors, he spent three and a half years of his childhood in the Terezín concentration camp. In the decades that followed, he joined the Communist Party, only to be expelled after the Soviet invasion.

Ivan Klíma was born in Prague in 1931 as Ivan Kauders.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Václav Plecháček, Czech Radio

The town of Opočno, known for its beautiful Renaissance castle, is hosting the 58th edition of its annual International Falconry Meeting. Organized by the Czech Falconry Club, the event draws falconers from across Europe, filling the skies above the castle and surrounding countryside with majestic birds of prey.

A drone circled high above a field outside Opočno in the Hradec Králové Region as onlookers traced its path in the sky.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Illustration photo: knottja, Pixabay, CC0 1.0 DEED

Every two years, Ostrava comes alive with Spectaculo Interesse, a major international puppet festival. This year’s edition, held from October 2–6, brings together puppeteers from eleven countries – from Canada to Greece.

Radio Prague International spoke to the Artistic Director of the festival, Jakub Maksymov.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Designblok

The latest edition of Designblok, Central Europe’s biggest celebration of design and fashion, kicks off in Prague on Tuesday. Over the next six days, the festival will showcase the work of more than 200 carefully selected designers, studios, and brands. I spoke with Jana Zielinski, Head of Designblok, just before the festival started, to hear what’s new and what visitors shouldn’t miss this year.

We are standing here in Queen Anne’s Summer Palace in the Royal Gardens of Prague Castle, which is one of the festival’s venues.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

On the second Sunday in October fans of horseracing traditionally gather in Pardubice for the event of the year – the Velká pardubická steeplechase. Here is the extraordinary story of an English jockey closely connected to the race.

One of the most successful foreign jockeys in the history of the Great Pardubice steeplechase was Richard Harry Fletcher, an Englishman who competed in the legendary race an astonishing seventeen times.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Few visitors to Prague have heard of Folimanka Park, a green valley tucked between Vinohrady and Nusle. Yet this quiet corner recently gained worldwide attention when Dan Brown set part of his latest thriller there.

When people talk about Prague’s botanical gardens and parks, Folimanka rarely comes to mind.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: FOFR Film Festival

The International Student Film Festival FOFR returns for its third edition, running from October 9-11 at Kino Kavalírka in Prague – a rather special revitalized cinema dating back to the 1930s. The festival itself is just as distinctive. Radio Prague International spoke with the festival’s co-director, Matyáš Lada, to learn more about what makes FOFR special.

“The FOFR Film Festival is an international film festival of student films – this means that about a quarter or half of all films come from foreign countries.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Dagmar Hochová, Prague City Gallery

A major retrospective of Dagmar Hochová opened this week at Prague City Gallery’s House of Photography. It presents not only her celebrated photographs of children from the 1950s and 60s, but also scenes from pivotal moments in Czech history, such as the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, as well as everyday life.

Born in 1926, Dagmar Hochová studied at the State Graphic School before continuing at Prague’s renowned Film and TV School, FAMU.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

The organizers of Prague’s Signal Festival have opened a digital art gallery called Signal Space to the public, located in the Old Town Market Hall. The inaugural exhibition, Echoes of Tomorrow, will run for six months and features ten installations, some of which visitors may recognize from previous editions of the Signal Festival.

See more here.

Photo: Vyšehrad

In this edition of our Sunday Music show, we bring you Collegium Marianum – Lacrimae: Featuring Works by Jan Dismas Zelenka.

Collegium Marianum is a Czech baroque music ensemble, founded in 1997, that specializes in the performance of 17th- and 18th-century music.

See more here.

Photo: Magdalena Hrozínková, Radio Prague International

What kinds of buildings have Czech women architects designed, from the First Republic up to the present? That is the central theme of this year’s Day of Architecture festival, which runs through Tuesday, October 7, with hundreds of free events and open sites across Czechia and Slovakia.

This year’s motto of Days of Architecture is Ta architektura, or That Architecture, a reference to the fact that in Czech, the word “architecture” is grammatically feminine.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

On Sunday 28.09.25, Pražak Quartet Festival presented the first of their 5 concerts. If you missed it, don’t worry, there are 4 more concerts in the season and tickets are still available for all of them here.

It was a glorious start to the exciting new festival – it was a sold-out the magical Hlahol. The Sunday’s guest was Anna Paulová (clarinet).

Watch a few highlights from that magical concert.

America’s most-produced playwright steps onto the stage to give voice to Anne Hathaway in the European premiere of her new play, revealing the ‘combustible and devoted’ partnership behind the legend.

Lauren M. Gunderson, a titan of the American stage, is not only a writer of stories but, for a few nights this October, the living embodiment of one. In an unprecedented European premiere, Prague Shakespeare Company will present her latest work, Muse of Fire, a play that delves into the passionate, often-overlooked relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway. In a rare and deeply personal turn, Gunderson herself will take on the role of Anne, offering Prague audiences a unique opportunity to see a master storyteller inhabit her own creation.

Lauren Gunderson

We sat down with Ms. Gunderson to discuss the fire behind the muse, the magic of Prague, and the bold, vulnerable act of stepping into the shoes of Shakespeare’s enigmatic wife.

You are America’s most-produced playwright. Stepping onto the stage yourself to play Anne Hathaway is a remarkable choice. What is the essential truth about this character that you felt you could only tell by embodying her yourself?

Lauren M. Gunderson: First and foremost, I must thank Guy and Jessica at Prague Shakespeare Company for their belief in the power and timeliness of this play. It has meant the world to have their support and encouragement as we take big risks to tell this story. I’m so grateful that we get to tell it with them in the gorgeous, compelling city of Prague.

In my telling, Anne is as vivacious, keen-eyed, and savage as her playwright husband. The more I wrote the play, the more I couldn’t help but imagine myself as the first inhabitant of the role. And truly, writing from within the play has been a fabulous alteration to my normal process. It has been uniquely generative and flexible. Anne’s story has always been under-told, and I wanted to give her back her voice, her power, and most shockingly of all, her love story. I believe that Shakespeare might have just chosen someone as curious and interesting as he was for a wife, and I want to meet her as much as I want to meet him. She is passionate, ferociously smart, furiously funny.

The title is Muse of Fire. What is the “fire” you’ve uncovered in their relationship, and what sparks will the audience see fly on stage?

LMG: The “fire” in the title is all of the things they kindled both separately and together: Will’s art, Anne’s family, their marriage — messy, magnetic, grief-filled, and love-fueled. All of it is in their uncontrollable, unavoidable fire of the mind and heart. Anne and Will spark off each other, and the question of the play is, will they smolder… or burn each other to ash. This play doesn’t treat her as the quiet wife in Stratford; it shows the heat, the fights, the flirtation, the shared ambition. The audience will see a marriage that’s as combustible as it is devoted; the kind of love that can devastate or offer salvation.

Why bring this intensely personal story to Prague for its European premiere? What is it about this city that connects with the play?

LMG: Performing this play in Prague—a city that I have longed to visit because of its history, beauty, and literary soul—feels like magic. I have been told that Prague is a place of eternal beauty but also a place that is a bit haunted. To tell a story about legacy, ambition, and the intimacy of a creative partnership in a city like this… well, it’s a perfect match.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 October, 2025 – Prague, Czech Republic

America’s Most-Produced Playwright, Lauren M. Gunderson, Makes European Stage Debut in the Premiere of Her New Play, MUSE OF FIRE, at Prague Shakespeare Company

PRAGUE, CZ – October 1, 2025 – Prague Shakespeare Company (PSC) is proud to announce the European premiere of MUSE OF FIRE, a powerful and intimate new play by Lauren M. Gunderson, one of America’s most celebrated and produced living playwrights. In a rare theatrical event, Ms. Gunderson will also make her European stage debut, starring in the production. Performances will run from October 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2025, at Divadlo Na Pradle.

Directed by the acclaimed Evren Odcikin, MUSE OF FIRE is an intimate two-person play that dives into the life and love of William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, at the volatile moment of his retirement from London. The play explores the searing emotional and creative fuel behind the world’s greatest writer, grappling with the sacrifices and joys of a life dedicated to the stage. Starring opposite Gunderson as William Shakespeare is Casey Murphy.

“To host the European premiere of a new work from a playwright of Lauren’s stature is an honor in itse,” said Guy Roberts, Artistic Director of Prague Shakespeare Company. “To have her and the visionary director Evren Odcikin here in Prague, with Lauren herself taking the stage, is a once-in-a-lifetime event for our company and our audiences. This production is a testament to the power of new writing and the timeless stories that connect us across centuries.”

Lauren Gunderson adds, “I must thank Guy and Jessica at Prague Shakespeare Company for their belief in the power and timeliness of this play. It has meant the world to have their support and encouragement as we take big risks to tell this story. I’m so grateful that we get to tell it with them in the gorgeous, compelling city of Prague.”

Following each performance, audiences are invited to a Talk-Back with the artists, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with the creators of this exciting new work.

Additionally Lauren M. Gunderson and Evren Odcikin will be conducting a special three-day workshop on Writing and Creating New Plays from 14-16 October with PSC at Divadlo Na Pradle. Details may be found on the PSC website link below.

Exclusive Artist Workshop

In addition to the performances, PSC will host an exclusive three-day creative summit, Playwriting & Creating New Plays, from October 14-16, 2025. Led by Lauren M. Gunderson and Evren Odcikin, this workshop offers a limited number of writers, directors, and actors an unprecedented opportunity for direct mentorship with two of contemporary theatre’s most vital voices. The workshop culminates in a professional New Work Showcase in November. For more information visit: https://pragueshakespeare.com/lauren-m-gunderson-playwriting-creating-developing-new-plays-writing-workshop.html and contact Guy Roberts at guy@pragueshakespeare.org

About the Artists

LAUREN M. GUNDERSON (Playwright & Actor) has been one of the most-produced playwrights in America since 2015. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and a winner of the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in Theatre Award. Her works, including I and You, The Book of Will, and The Revolutionists, are published and produced at major theatres across the globe. She is also the book writer for several musicals, including The Time Traveller’s Wife with Dave Stewart and Joss Stone.

EVREN ODCIKIN (Director) is an award-winning Turkish-American director, writer, and arts leader. He recently served as the Interim Artistic Director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of America’s largest and most prestigious theatres. His work has been seen at renowned institutions such as Soho Rep (a New York Times Critic’s Pick), Berkeley Rep, Woolly Mammoth, and Golden Thread. He is a recipient of the TITAN Award from Theatre Bay Area and was an inaugural National Director’s Fellow.

Listing Information

WHAT: MUSE OF FIRE – European Premiere
WHO: Written by Lauren M. Gunderson, Directed by Evren Odcikin Starring Lauren M. Gunderson and Casey Murphy Presented by Prague Shakespeare Company
WHEN: October 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2025, at 19:00 (7:00 PM)
WHERE: Divadlo Na Pradle, Besední 3, 118 00 Malá Strana, Prague 1
TICKETS: 400CZK General Admission / 200CZK Students & Seniors. Tickets are available now athttps://goout.net/en/muse-of-fire/szxuray/

More Information at:

https://pragueshakespeare.com/lauren-m-gundersons-muse-of-fire-european-premiere.html

About Prague Shakespeare Company

The Prague Shakespeare Company (PSC) presents professional theatre productions, workshops, classes, lectures and other theatrical events of the highest quality, conducted primarily in English by a diverse multinational ensemble of professional theatre artists, with an emphasis on the plays of William Shakespeare. The Prague Shakespeare Company brings to Czech, European and international audiences performances that are fresh, bold, imaginative, thought-provoking, and eminently accessible, connecting the truths of the past with the challenges and possibilities of today.

Media Contact:

Guy Roberts, Artistic Director

guy@pragueshakespeare.org

+420 603 968 536

The night before our departure from Khalkhgol in eastern Mongolia the night temperature dropped to -45°C, and when we wanted to refuel in the morning, it was impossible. The pump at the diesel tank was frozen. Fortunately, we had enough fuel to drive to the neighbouring district, where at the late morning temperature of -34°C it was already possible to fuel the car.

On the way to Khakghol, and also during the return trip, we could see small herds of Mongolian gazelles. They usually consisted of units and dozens of specimen, but this time – in the foggy and windy weather – they were no longer so alert; sometimes they even remained laying down in the steppe by the road. Twice I asked to stop, and I managed to get close enough in headwind to take quite good photos. I probably don’t have to say that in the wind and frost it was not pleasant at all.

But the gazelles themselves prepared the best photo for me two and half hours later. We arrived at a place where there were many hundreds of them on both sides of the road – and one of the herds decided to cross it. All I had to do was just drive closer, then lean my camera against the car door and take the picture you can see at today’s column.

This shot raised the interest of our Mongolian colleagues and later it was awarded the Picture of the Day on the serveriNaturalist. It captures Mongolian gazelles within the context of their significant threat – which are linear constructions.

Mongolian gazelle occurs in eastern Mongolia with overlaps in adjacent areas of Russia and China, and particularly in autumn it migrates very long distances. Unfortunately, its migration routes are disturbed by fences, railroads and roads. A typical example was the construction of the railroad between Ulaanbaatar and Beijing at the end of 1950s, which was fenced from both sides, and which literally cut the area settled by Mongolian gazelles in two parts. Another example may be the fence which China built to fence off its entire territory. But it is not just about the constructions built in past times. Especially recently there has been a large-scale increase in roads in Mongolia and the traffic has been growing, along with export of raw materials to China. And the country wants – quite logically – to develop also in future decades. Just as logically, however, the plans for construction of more roads and especially railroads cause terror in the eyes of conservationists.

I don’t want to predict here the future of Mongolian gazelles. I do have one piece of good news. The census, held in May 2020, showed that there were about 2,200,000 gazelles. This was significantly more than expected.

Photo: Office of the President of the Republic

In an address to the public three days before the country’s general elections, President Petr Pavel urged Czechs to go to the polls. He said that now, more than ever, Czechia needs a government that will ensure its security, protect its sovereignty and not leave it at the mercy of Russia.

“We regularly hear, about every parliamentary election, that it is a turning point, the most important election in the history of our country.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Daniela Honigmann, Radio Prague International

Dan Brown’s newest novel The Secret of Secrets that takes its main protagonist Robert Langdon to Prague has already inspired themed city tours tracing Langdon’s footsteps around the city.

Undoubtedly, Prague possesses a certain magic: narrow alleys, golden rooftops, hundreds of church towers, a rich tradition of alchemy, and age-old legends.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Honigmann, Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Czech Television

17-year-old Paralympic swimmer David Kratochvíl shattered a 23-year-old world record in the men’s 400m freestyle at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. He finished the competition with a complete set of seven medals from seven races.

“It’s overwhelming, it’s amazing.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Barbora Němcová, Radio Prague International

September 28th is a public holiday in the Czech Republic. It is the feast day of St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia, and commemorates his death in 935.

Wenceslas was born in 907 and was the son of the Duke of Bohemia.

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Photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

On Prague’s Hradčany Square stands one of the city’s most remarkable historic sites: Loreto. This Baroque pilgrimage complex is renowned not only for its architecture, but above all for its extraordinary carillon, which first rang out on September 28, 1695, the feast day of St. Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech lands.

The carillon is housed in the octagonal tower at the center of Loreto’s façade.

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Photo: Museum and Gallery of the Northern Pilsen Region in Mariánská Týnice

Archaeologists in western Bohemia have announced a remarkable discovery: around 500 gold and silver Celtic coins, along with gold and bronze jewellery, dating from the 6th to the 1st century B.C. The find is considered extraordinary not only in the Czech context but also on a Central European scale.

The first clue came in 2021, when an amateur archaeologist using a metal detector unearthed a fragment of a golden coin from the 2nd century B.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Josef Ženatý, Czech Radio

Eighty-seven years ago, Nazi Germany, Italy, France, and Great Britain signed the Munich Agreement, leading Czechoslovakia to surrender its borderlands to Germany. Thousands of new bunkers called “řopíky,” built to defend against the Nazis, became useless as they were mostly in occupied territory. Now some of them are for sale.

To this day, thousands of bunkers are owned by the state, which is gradually disposing of them.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Lukáš Milota

Photo: Tomáš Mařas, Czech Radio

Czechia hosts the fourth highest number of cars per capita, according to Eurostat — however, the country also has the second oldest car fleet. As Czechs have gotten increasingly reliant on personal cars over the past 15 years, those vehicles have also gotten older and older.

The Ministry of Transport recently reported that over 6.

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Photo: Marta Pilařová, Czech Radio

Emotions are running high in one of Ostrava’s suburban districts. Several families who bought land in the district of Hošťálkovice with plans to build homes say they were deceived after excavation works uncovered piles of hidden toxic waste — including plastics, flammable containers and batteries. A geological survey later confirmed the presence of hazardous substances, some of them carcinogenic.

“I didn’t buy a plot on a dump — I bought a plot with a view of Ostrava.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Radek Petrášek, ČTK

On the 60th anniversary of an old bet, 16 fans of Sparta and Slavia have set out from Smržovka in northern Bohemia on a 145-kilometre journey to next week’s Prague football derby. The trip also has a charitable aim: raising funds to repair a local sledding track.

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Photo: František Tichý, Czech Radio

Petr Kopecký, President of Ostrava University, has spent nearly three decades teaching and researching English and American literature. In an interview for Czechast, he spoke about the role of universities in defending democracy, the challenge of integrating AI in education, and his passion for John Steinbeck. He also addressed the future of Ostrava and the ongoing struggle to keep young talent in the Moravia-Silesia region.

Petr Kopecký is not only President of Ostrava University but also a scholar of American literature and environmental thought.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Profimedia

The bestselling American author Dan Brown has set his newest thriller in Prague. What drew him to the Czech capital? Which Prague landmarks inspired the plot? What does his writing process look like?

Released on September 9th, The Secret of Secrets is set in the heart of the city, steeped in legends and tales of Prague’s mysteries.

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Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

The twelfth edition of the LUSTR festival of illustration and comics is underway at Prague’s Holešovice Market. Running from September 19 until September 28, the festival brings together leading names in Czech and international illustration.

This year’s main exhibition, New Forms of Sensitivity, explores themes of subtlety, intimacy and honesty.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jaroslav Hoření, Czech Radio

History buffs now have the rare chance to view highly professional replicas of three royal crowns connected to the Czech lands in one place. The exhibition entitled “Crowns of Emperors and Kings” is on show at the Museum of the Bohemian Paradise in Turnov.

The main exhibits on display at this unusual exhibition in Turnov are replicas of crowns worn by Luxembourg and other rulers on the Czech, Hungarian, and Austrian thrones.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Profimedia

Early autumn in the Czech lands paints a tale of two traditions. Fruit brandy distillers complain of rising taxes and declining interest, while winemakers report a promising vintage. From slivovitz to Pinot Gris, the season reflects both bitter struggles and sweet hopes.

Early autumn in Moravia traditionally means the season of fruit brandy distilleries.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

David Mareček is the director general of the Czech Philharmonic, one of Czechia’s premier cultural institutions. The orchestra, launched in the 1890s with a concert conducted by Dvořák, is based at Prague’s magnificent Rudolfinum, a building that once housed the country’s parliament. And it was there that I spoke to Mr. Mareček about the selection of Jakub Hrůša as next music director – and much more besides.

Last year was of course was a big year for the Czech Philharmonic.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Zdeněk Truhlář, Czech Radio

The Kateřinská and Punkva caves, together with the Macocha Abyss in the heart of the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area, are seeking a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. If their bid is successful they would join the Jizera Mountain Beech Forests, which so far remain the only Czech natural heritage site on the list.

The Moravian Karst, in southern Moravia, is the country’s largest and most important karst region.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Ondřej Deml, ČTK

Marta Kubišová, whose song Prayer for Marta became a symbol of protest against the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, has become the first Czech singer to appear on a special limited edition of Czech stamps. Their release is scheduled for November 1, the singer’s 83rd birthday.

Marta Kubišová is an icon on the Czech music scene, shining bright during groundbreaking moments in the country’s modern history.

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