The Little Theatre

Sensational newspaper headlines sometimes spark the wildest images in our minds. Often we don’t even need to read any further and we think we already know everything. Or we at least believe so. The Little Theatre uses improvisation to bring to life right before your eyes the most outrageous headlines from both the contemporary media and from history. A few words give rise to entire stories; facts are turned into fiction, and assumptions twisted into unexpected turns. Fake news performed live. You may believe it or not!Sensational newspaper headlines sometimes spark the wildest images in our minds. Often we don’t even need to read any further and we think we already know everything. Or we at least believe so. The Little Theatre uses improvisation to bring to life right before your eyes the most outrageous headlines from both the contemporary media and from history. A few words give rise to entire stories; facts are turned into fiction, and assumptions twisted into unexpected turns. Fake news performed live. You may believe it or not!

Every repeat performance of DID IT REALLY HAPPEN…? is a fresh edition! A premiere and a closing night at the price of a single ticket!

The performance was produced with the ensemble My kluci, co spolu chodíme (Boys Who Hang Out Together).

12+

Alice follows the White Rabbit into Wonderland, where strange encounters, unexpected transformations, and perhaps even an unforeseen love await her. For the first time on the revolving auditorium, you too can become part of the story itself. With a special immersive ticket, you won’t just watch Wonderland — you’ll spend part of the evening inside it. You’ll wander through Wonderland, meet its curious inhabitants from up close, and for a moment become part of the play yourself.

 

6+

Why do we celebrate Christmas? Because it is the b-day of Baby Jesus!
A restored premiere of Baby Jesus’ legendary party accompanied by the Jesus Christ Superband.
A Christmas party where water turns into wine, people walk on water, and walk on water turned into wine. Admission for all from the age of 6.
Attention! Limited number of reruns!

For children in the age range of 3-18 months  accompanied by their families (0-100 years).
A journey into the new world of music and fantasy in which children and adults meet with actors, singers and musicians, and all of them together set off for their first small / great adventures. Welcome to a World in which there are no limitations and where you may touch everything. Who knows whether you will discover if your child is a genius? But in any case, you can expect a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all the senses in a safe and inviting environment.

Although this original opera for the extremely young and their adult companions has found authorial inspiration in similar projects elsewhere in the world, for instance Scandinavia, it is actually based on our own musical and theatrical roots. This playful opera was created by one of our most successful composers of the younger generations Lukáš Sommer, who comes from Dobrá Voda near České Budějovice, and the screen writer and director is Jiří Ondra. Both authors are well experienced in creating works for children. In the studio at Na Půdě (In the Loft), stage designer Jana Hauskrechtová has used movable objects to create a fantasy world full of colours, shapes, light and fragrances (the performance will also include aromatherapy) that the children discover together with the adults accompanying them. There is no longer the classic division between stage and auditorium, but one joint area in which the spectators are included in the performance based on the principles of the “immersive theatre”. The production also involves the actors of the Small Theatre.

Little Red Riding Hood? Hansel and Gretel? Otesánek? Aladdin? Alibaba and the Forty Thieves? Will all of them fit into our car? You are invited to a cocktail of the most famous fairy-tales! Choose by yourselves the CLIP of your favourite fairy-tale from our offer. And we will make it happen!
A mobile jukebox – live music – wild puppets – street party! 

My body belongs to me alone and no one else. I can wear what I want and I have the right to be myself. That people will give you a funny look? So what?! It’s not a crime to like yourself! And what does it matter if you sometimes don’t know who you are? There’s no hurry. Finding yourself is the greatest adventure.
A fierce, intimate, honest and uncompromising stage party that isn’t afraid to name things as they are.

A bold show about inner and outer freedom and respect for oneself and others.

15+

Somewhere deep in the Amazon rainforest, time has stood still, and even today you can see with your own eyes the huge, terrifying animals from ancient prehistoric times. Don't believe it? A puppet show will present dinosaurs from the famous production The Lost World in a spectacular parade through the center of České Budějovice. 

The production is nonverbal.

3+

How important it is to be afraid! Spiritism for the youngest spectators.

What do children do when they don’t feel like sleeping? They tell each other scary stories. So quietly that their parents can’t hear them. Like the one about Dreadnought. Dreadnought isn’t scared of anything. But his wife is very worried about him. One day, she sends him into the world to learn what fear is. But the horns of all the devils are too short for him, and all the wizardry of the enchanted forest is a terrible fun.

A scarily witty puppet show about how being scared is sometimes terrifyingly important.

4+
 

3+

On 10 January 1992, a violent storm swept into the Pacific Ocean one of the shipping containers from a cargo ship heading from Hong Kong to the USA. It contained over 28,000 rubber ducks. Some of them floated as far as the shores of Hawaii and Alaska, some made it to the antipodes in Australia. Others froze in blocks of Arctic ice or dissolved in the sea salt. Some found their way onto the shelves of avid collectors. Others helped scientists discover how the currents of the sea work. Many of them became part of a floating island of rubbish. And some are still floating in the ocean today.
The fantastic fates of (almost) all these migrating ducklings are documented on stage for the youngest audience.

Granny Bygone doesn’t travel much anymore. She watches most of the world from her window, and her apartment is full of remarkable objects that remember long gone times. But even at home, something unexpected can happen every day! A trip to the bathroom becomes an adventurous expedition, cooking dinner turns into a magic ritual, and ordinary objects begin to tell their own stories.

A puppet fairy tale for the youngest audiences about the world of our grandparents — and about what might be happening when we’re not visiting them. It’s the perfect opportunity for every child to take their grandparents to the theatre. The production playfully combines puppet and object animation, featuring items the youngest spectators may no longer recognize — objects perhaps waiting to be rediscovered.

4+

South Specific 2026 – first time at the festival
The festival is held under the auspices of the mayor of the statutory city of České Budějovice.

5. - 20. 6. 2026

Hercules was never like the others. He had powers that other mortals only dream of. But he didn’t know where he had got them from, and his mother, Alcmene, would have preferred if he didn’t brag about them. Yet fate is fate. And when one is predestined to become a hero, neither a whole host of mythical monsters nor the smug gods of ancient Greece can prevent it. A spectacular musical performance for the whole family that will take you from Český Krumlov straight to Olympus!
6+

www.jiznisveraz.cz/en

They had a dream and followed it. They achieved extraordinary things — or simply lived in a way they felt was right. A conductor who became the first woman to lead a male orchestra. The owner of the most famous fashion salon of the pre-war republic. A spy who significantly contributed to weakening Nazi forces. These and other important women of our history come to life in a production that shows that heroism can sometimes be quite unassuming.

The creators of the successful production Charles – father of the Nation return with another playful glimpse into Czech history, bringing the stories of great personalities to the stage of the Little Theatre.

10+

Is it holiday time? Or is a performance sold out? You can take a walk with us around České Budějovice whenever you want! Let your favourite voices guide you around familiar places and see these places with completely different eyes!

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Czech Radio in České Budějovice, the Little Theatre ensemble has joined forces with the mobile app Hidden Stories and Lukáš Csicsely, a South Bohemian native and award-winning author for children and adults. Join us on the streets!

www.skrytepribehy.cz

4+

Theatrical animation about seeking friends across the universe

The little one has never been invited to a party, birthday party, or carnival in all his life! He sits in front of the TV-set waiting for an invitation. Until he sees a documentary on flying saucers. Maybe the aliens will take him in. And among the stars!

He decides he has to make himself known! The universe is so immense that anyone can find friends in it!
Sometimes you can feel like an alien, but you are never alone!

8+

South Specific 2026 – festival premiere

Amidst the stormy sea, lighthouses soar on islands of calmness and solitude. Their beacons attract lost ships, underwater monsters, and mermaids who have lost their voices. Upon the surface of the water, stories unfold inspired both by real events and the fables of old sailors, whose memories stretch back to the time when the ocean was nothing more than a blank blue expanse on paper maps.

This spectacular production, which draws inspiration from the Vietnamese water puppet theatre, transports audiences from the ponds of South Bohemia to ocean cliffs, where the wildest imaginations of land dwellers emerge from the waves.
4+

The complete festival program, including the Opening Weekend, will be on sale from March 3, 2026. The South Specific Festival is part of České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028. The festival is held under the auspices of the mayor of the statutory city of České Budějovice.

www.jiznisveraz.cz/en

An annoying little girl, who for some reason has been sent to the dark forest all alone by her mother, meets with a blood-thirsty wolf-monster …
Have you heard this story a hundred times? We understand. Are you bored with it? So are we. Little Red Riding Hood is, however, one of the most famous tales of all times, so there must be something about it. Let’s bet that – regardless of whether you are 6, 12 or 18, whether you are a rock musician, a ballet dancer or a superhero – this little girl will rivet you all. 

What does time look like? Why do people so often think they don’t have enough of it? What lasts a long time and what doesn’t? How long does NOW last for? What does time mean to a shark, a mayfly, or the planet Earth? How is it possible that children wait for Christmas much longer than adults do? And most importantly – is it possible to eat a dry bread roll in less than one minute? A theatrical laboratory that unfolds right in front of you!

A cabaret full of music, singing, and playful experiments, based on David Böhm’s book, nominated for the Magnesia Litera Award, with original music by composer Jiří Trtík.

8+

Wake up. Training. School. Training again. Homework. Sleep. And wake up again. The day has only twenty four hours, and adulthood is lurking just around the corner. You must not stop, you must not waste time. Your life is a race, and if you want to succeed, you have to stay at the front of the peloton.

Pressure to perform. Sometimes others put it on us, and sometimes we do it to ourselves. Our whole life revolves around a single goal. But what happens when an insurmountable obstacle suddenly appears in our path? Is it possible to switch off for a moment without feeling like a failure? An original production inspired by those who had to slow down from a full sprint to zero.

14+

Gym, rap, and face routine. Gym, rap, and the high expectations of self-proclaimed adult kings. The world seen through the eyes of today’s teenagers. What annoys them, what troubles them, and what’s got hype. How hard is it for everyone to stay “normal”? Who’s cool and who’s cringe in this madhouse? And what if you just feel totally out of place?

A staged rap concert about growing up and finding yourself in the age of information overload. Join us on our journey to the world of RAPsody, where all the confusion and uncomfortable feelings are lightened by rap, humour, and protest against fake icons who try to tell you how to live.

12+

14+

Murder, adultery, and an endless struggle for power! Richard III, as portrayed by William Shakespeare, stands among the greatest villains in literary history. But where did all his violence and hatred come from? And when did he lose every last shred of empathy? Together with the audience, we will try to find the answers to these questions in our exciting game of thrones.

This interactive production for young audiences, which explores the idea that masculinity doesn’t have to be inherently toxic, will let you take a look at the dishonest tactics of self-proclaimed manipulative leaders.

Relax and give yourselves over to the gentle flow of spa dreaming. Enter a world untouched by boundaries, where the rules differ from those learned in the adult world.
Sit. Lie down. Get comfortable. You can close your eyes or keep them open – it’s only up to you. Let your child explore a safe environment where nothing poses a threat. Who will guide whom on this journey? Will you lead your little one, or will they take your hand instead?

Rediscover what brings you joy, what feels pleasant, and what’s natural. You may find out that you’re not so different from your child after all. A theatrical spa experience for parents and their babies aged six months to three years, as well as for those standing at the threshold of parenthood. It’s never too early to start going to the theatre, and never too late to start going to the spa!

From 6 months to 3 years

Dear audience,
we would like to share some important information with you before your visit to the performance Láznění (Spa Dreaming). Please take a moment to read it carefully.
The performance is designed for adults and their children aged 6 months to 3 years. The theatre space and the performance itself are specially adapted for very young audiences.
This is not a traditional theatre performance. There are no standard theatre seats, no complex story, and no loud or dramatic effects. Láznění is a gentle sensory experience focusing on music, light, colours, movement, and simple visual stimuli.
Theatre for the youngest audiences welcomes natural reactions from children. Babies and toddlers may move around, crawl, fall asleep, cry, or be fed during the performance. These reactions are a normal and accepted part of the experience.
A child’s first encounter with art can be an important step in developing imagination, perception, and a relationship with culture. We are delighted to share this experience with you.
Practical information:
• the performance lasts approximately 40 minutes
• it is followed by a short playtime session (10–15 minutes), during which photography is allowed
• if needed, you may leave the room and return during the performance
• strollers can be left in the foyer, and you will have access to them throughout the event
• entry to the performance space is without shoes, in clean socks only
• the accompanying adult is responsible for the child’s safety during the entire visit
Every child reacts differently to new environments. If your child becomes uncomfortable, it is perfectly fine to step out and try visiting the theatre again another time.

5+

It is a chilly December evening, and the tear-off calendar shows the fifth. On a town square, near the fountain, a tiny bundle appears – with a tiny sleeping infant inside. A curious crowd gathers around it. What will happen to the child? Who will take care of it? And if it has fallen from the sky, will it grow into an angel or a devil? And why doesn’t even Saint Nicholas himself know the answer? But one thing is certain – get ready for a surprise! An original fairy tale from acclaimed author and screenwriter Jana Šrámková, about the power of foster care and the truth that nobody is born with angel wings or devil horns.

25. 6. - 5. 7. 2026

In the depth of the Amazonian rain forest, time has come to a standstill and you can see the gigantic, terrifying beasts of the prehistory of long ago with your own eyes even today. Don’t you believe it? This is a report of amazing adventures in which the most fantastic ideas of the author meet with the results of scientific research. The age of the Romantic period is not over. Catch your pterodactyle in Český Krumlov!

The war is over and Odysseus is returning home! But the gods are not favourable to him and put one obstacle after another in his path: the alluring sirens, the possessive Cyclops, the cunning enchantress Circe, and the irresistible taste of Budweiser lager beer. Where the Malše River meets the Vltava, contemporary Budějovice meets ancient Greece. Board a steamer and become one of Odysseus’ sailors!
A unique opportunity to watch the play performed on the river banks from the deck of a ship travelling from České Budějovice through Hluboká to Purkarec, all of which turn into the islands Odysseus encounters on his back way to his native Ithaca.

6+

An adventurous ride by boat, rocket, airship, submarine, plane... through the life and works of Jules Verne! Every single story of the famous writer. And a story about fathers and people. Up on deck, the faraway lands are calling!