Pilsen’s Alfa Theatre specialises in puppet shows, and the vast majority of its repertoire includes productions for children of various age groups. In the theatre’s programme, you’ll find fairy tales for kindergarten-age children, stories for younger schoolchildren, and puppet shows aimed at teenagers. The choice is yours from this expansive assortment of performances.
Opening times
Admission
Purchase tickets directly at the theatre or on the Plzeňská vstupenka website.
Public transport
Address
Rokycanská 7
312 00 Pilsen
From the theatre’s history
Pilsen is one of the cradles of traditional Czech puppetry, which was recorded by the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The more than 100 years of tradition are represented by characters of worldwide puppetry, including Josef Skupa and Jiří Trnka, Spejbl with Hurvínek, and an array of local puppet theatres.
Alfa Theatre rose from this tradition of puppetry and followed the first professional puppet theatre in the former Czechoslovakia: Professor Skupa’s Puppet Theatre in Pilsen as well as the Children’s Theatre, which operated from 1966 in the historic Alfa building on today’s Americká Street.
In 1992, a new building was erected on Rokycanská Street with the re-established name “Alfa Theatre”, which remains operational to this day. Since 1967, the theatre has also acted as co-organiser of the Skupova Pilsen Festival, which has gradually taken shape as a series of professional Czech puppet theatre.
Theatre’s educational programme
The tour takes children into the theatre’s magical backstage area and teaches them the entire process of creating a theatrical performance. They’ll learn where the puppets go when (if at all) they retire as well as what other professions help put on a show aside from the actors. You’ll find more information about the programme on the theatre’s website.
