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Death in Venice

VenueEstates Theatre
CalendarThu 08 Apr 2027 - Thu 06 May 2027
Synopsis/Details

 

Three lonely existences cross their paths against the backdrop of one of the most famous novellas of the 20th century. The production presents an essay about old age, beauty, and the price paid both by the observer and the observed. It explores what happens where a person turns into an image – and where the image begins a life of its own. Beauty as a power tool and as powerlessness.

Björn Andrésen, “the most beautiful boy in the world”, who portrayed the role of the charming ephebe Tadzio in Luchino Visconti’s award-winning Death in Venice (1971), died in 2025 as a failed actor, a mediocre musician, and a former child star who lost all sparkle. At his deathbed, he cursed the film’s director, who helped him shoot to fame but simultaneously ruined his life, as the actor believed. Luchino Visconti, a magician of cinematography with a penchant for decadence and a pioneer of queer poetics in film, of whom Death in Venicewas a masterpiece, died in 1976. Amidst luxury, interiors decorated with baroque frescoes, and hundreds of cigarette butts, holding the hand of his handsome lover (the actor Helmut Berger, who reached global fame thanks to Visconti), he nonetheless dies feeling completely alone and praying in whisper not to end up in hell.

The main character of Thomas Mann’s novella Death in Venice, Professor Gustav von Aschenbach, died in 1911, having banished any love or desire from his life. Dying, he gazes at a beautiful young man to whom he has never spoken, whom he has never touched, yet whom he has loved. His lips, rasping, merely utter the unattainable idol’s name.

The production combines spoken words, film image, and the performer’s body in a single interconnected nervous system of Laterna magika.

Approximate running time: 1 hour 30 minutes, no intermission

Premiere: April 8, 2027

 

Based on Thomas Mann’s novella Death in Venice.

Cast

Creatives

Stage director: Jakub Čermák

Dramaturgy: Ilona Smejkalová

Venue
Estates Theatre

Practical information

 

Where to buy tickets

When purchasing tickets online, you will receive an e-ticket, which does not need to be printed—you can simply present it on your device upon entry. When available, you may also choose to collect printed tickets from the National Theatre box offices, and any tickets purchased directly at the box office will be issued in physical form.

The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance.
Sales always start on the 1st day of the month at 9am, except in January when pre-sales do not start until the 2nd day due to a public holiday.

 

When do the doors open prior the show?

The National Theatre, The State Opera and the Estates Theatre are open 45 minutes prior the performance in time of increased hygiene practices. The evening box offices are open at the same time.

The main box office at the New Stage on play days is open until the beginning of the show. The New Stage auditorium is open 30 minutes prior the performance.

 

What kind of dress is suitable for attending the theatre?

Dress codes are only required for special events. By their appearance, the visitors indicate that they are aware of the festive occasion they are experiencing at the theatre. Persons in markedly soiled clothes and persons whose behaviour may compromise the safety of the other visitors are not allowed to enter the respective premises, or can be ejected from them.

 

Where do I park? How much does the parking cost?

Unfortunately, there is no parking nearby the Estates Theater. You can either use the National Theatre car park or a secure car park at the Kotva shopping mall (Revoluční 1/655, Prague 1) and Paladium (Na Poříčí 1079 / 3a, Prague 1).

Only non-cash payments: Parking fees can be paid exclusively by cashless payment card or another virtual device (watch or phone). Thank you for your understanding.”

 

Buffets at the State Opera

No waiting. For your benefit, please pre-order your food and beverages at the bar to minimize waiting in the queue!

 

Accessibility for the disabled

All the National Theatre venues are accessible to disabled persons, with special seats allocated for them in the auditorium. It is, however, advisable to consult each visit in advance with the National Theatre Sales Department.

 

Can I get an artist’s signature? Can I leave them flowers?

The National Theatre does not provide signatures of artists or contacts to them. You can leave flowers for artists performing in the show before its beginning at the theatre stuff.

 

 

The Estates Theatre today

 

The Estates Theatre is one of the most beautiful historical theatre buildings in Europe. It has been part of the National Theatre since 1920. The Opera, Drama and Ballet ensembles give repertory performances at the Estates Theatre.

 

History

 

The Estates Theatre is one of the most beautiful historic theatre buildings in Europe. Its construction was initiated by the enlightened aristocrat František Antonín Count Nostitz Rieneck, led by the desire to aggrandise his native city as well as the souls of its inhabitants. The construction lasted less than two years and the Theatre was opened in 1783. This project, extremely important for the Prague of the time, was in keeping with the zeitgeist of the late 18th century, a time when national theatres were being built at European courts, royal seats and cultural centres in the spirit of the Enlightenment idea that a generally accessible theatre is a moral institution demonstrating the cultural level of the nation.

The first, sporadic Czech-language performances took place in 1785. From 1812 onwards there were regular Sunday and holiday matinees. At that time, these performances became to a certain degree a political matter too. Thus arising in the difficult years following the failed revolution in 1848 was the idea of a Czech National Theatre.

 

 

By car to the National Theatre car park

To the centre (OldTown), approach on Masarykovo nábřeží (Masaryk embankment) in the direction from the Dancing House, at the crossroads in front of the National Theatre turn right to Divadelní street and then right again to Ostrovní street to the National Theatre car park. Parking costs 50 CZK/h. 

From there, walk to the Estates Theatre along Národní street, then 28. října street, turn left on to Na Můstku street and right to Rytířská street. 

 

Other nearby secure car parks:

Kotva department store (Revoluční 1/655, Prague 1), then walk along Králodvorská street to Ovocný trh.

Palladium department store (Na Poříčí 1079/3a, Prague 1), then walk along Králodvorská street to Ovocný trh, or to the Powder Gate through Celetná street to Ovocný trh.

 

By tram

By daytime trams Nos. 6, 9, 18 and 22 or night trams Nos. 53, 57, 58 and 59 to the stop “Národní třída”, then by foot along Národní street, then 28. října street, turn left to Na Můstku street and right to Rytířská street.

By daytime trams Nos. 5, 8, 14 and 26 or night trams Nos. 51, 54 and 56 to the stop “Náměstí Republiky”, then on foot around the Municipal House to the Powder Gate, on Celetná street to Ovocný trh.

By daytime trams Nos. 3, 9, 14, 24 or night trams Nos. 52, 54, 55, 56 and 58 to the stop “Jindřišská”, then on foot along Nekázanka / Panská streets, turn left to Na Příkopě street and then right to Havířská street (from Na Příkopě street you can also walk through the Myslbek arcade).

 

By metro

To the station “Můstek”, lines A and B (green and yellow), then on foot through Na Můstku street and right to Rytířská street.

Accomodation

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