Summer Shakespeare Festival

The Summer Shakespeare Festival is a cherished annual event held in the enchanting courtyard of Burgrave Palace at Prague Castle. Founded by Václav Havel, the festival also casts its spell at Špilberk Castle in Brno and Bratislava Castle in Bratislava. The organizers collaborate closely with Martin Hilský, who has translated the majority of the plays performed at the festival, ensuring the Bard's words resonate profoundly with the audience.

One of the festival's standout performances was "King Lear" in 2002, which garnered widespread acclaim. In 2004, director Martin Huba undertook the ambitious task of staging "Romeo and Juliet" with a unique twist: the Capulets and Montagues were portrayed by Slovak and Czech actors, respectively. However, the project faced challenges, as Huba found that the translated dialogues did not blend seamlessly. Ultimately, the only character who spoke Slovak was the Nurse, portrayed brilliantly by Emília Vášáryová.

Over the years, the festival has showcased an array of notable performances, including "King Lear" in 2002, "Hamlet" in 2003, "Romeo and Juliet" in 2004, "Twelfth Night, or What You Will" in 2005, and "Othello" in 2006. Each production featured talented actors and directors, bringing a diverse range of Shakespeare's works to life for audiences to savor.