Press 2006

Fringe Festival Praha: 29th May - 4th June 2006

The 5th Prague Fringe Festival set to unveil biggest ever programme.
To celebrate its 5th birthday the Czech Republic's annual international arts extravaganza is to add an extra day of exciting new entertainment to its rich and varied cultural programme.

The 'Fringe' will stage 180 performances from 35 companies and individuals from 29th May to 4th June at its six Mala Strana venues. Organisers have selected some of the best and most innovative theatre and other productions from around the world to add to the Czech talent on offer.

Theatrical 'tapas'; gourmet theatre in bite-size chunks.

The 2006 'Fringe' offers high quality theatre performances in easily digestible hour-long servings. With short shows throughout the afternoon and into the night Fringe Festival Praha offers a tapas style theatrical menu, allowing audiences to easily digest a mix of shows from different parts of the world. This cultural feast is sure to satisfy everyone from those with the most discerning of palettes to youngster's selecting from the special menu of children's performances.

The idea behind the Fringe Festival is to offer an informal programme of accessible, new, sometimes cutting edge theatre from around the Czech Republic and around the world in a new way. Instead of a night at a traditional and formal theatre involving only one production, audiences can now take in two, three or even more shows in one day, taking in a drink and a snack between shows. In fact, for the dedicated Fringe enthusiast, it's possible to see every single one of the Fringe productions over the week-long event.

There are more than 50 similar Fringe festivals around the globe, based on the original Edinburgh Festival Fringe, now in its 59th year. The unique characteristic is that they offer a sociable way to experience new and international theatre.

As well as the hand-picked productions the Prague Fringe offers artists the chance to apply to be included in the event's programme, thus ensuring a complete cultural 'free-for-all'.

Varied diet at a healthy price.

As a special treat for audiences tickets to all shows on the first night are just 100 CZK instead of the usual reasonable 150 CZK.

What's new - Prague Fringe facts.

• Fifth Prague Fringe Festival
• Now 7 days long
• 38 companies present 38 productions
• Shows from 9 counrties
• New venue: the renowned music bar, U Maleho Glena
• Bargain ticket price on first night
• New short film programme
• All ages catered for
• Theatre for children by children
• Marathon theatre experience (possible to see all 38 productions in 7 days)
• Some non-verbal shows
• Programme indicates age suitability and language including degree of competency needed.
• Small, intimate and sociable theatre-going experience.

Genres on offer include:

• Drama
• Musical Theatre
• Comedy Theatre
• Cabaret
• Music
• Short Films
• Adults only comedy
• Children's theatre and comedy
• Multi-media
• Puppetry
• Dance theatre
• Clownery
• Mime
• Poetic Theatre

Subject matter includes:

• Shakespeare
• Elvis
• Jean Paul Sartra
• War
• British football hooliganism
• Cancer
• Marilyn Monroe

Countries represented:

• Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• England
• Scotland
• USA
• Ireland
• Australia
• Denmark
• Canada
• France

Fringe spaces 2006:

• DIVADLO NABLÍZKO
  (MALÉ NOSTICOVO DIVADLO)
  Nosticova 2a, Praha 1 - Malá Strana
• DIVADLO NA PRÁDLE
  Besední 3, Praha 1 - Malá Strana
• A STUDIO RUBÍN
  Malostranské náměstí 9, Praha 1 - Malá Strana
• U MALÉHO GLENA
  Karmelická 23 - Praha 1 - Malá Strana