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Kafka, The Trial

VenueEstates Theatre
CalendarWed 30 Sep 2026 - Wed 07 Oct 2026
Synopsis/Details

 

The ballet treats Franz Kafka’s feted novel, revealing the absurdity and cruelty of the bureaucratic apparatus the protagonist grapples with to no avail. Bigonzetti masterfully combines dance, music and imaginative scenery, created by Carlo Cerri. Owing to its black-and-white visual concept and video projections, the production evokes the film noir aesthetics, thus paying tribute to Orson Welles’s seminal cinematic adaptation.

Bigonzetti is well-known to Prague audiences, who have had the opportunity to see his abstract piece Vertigo (2016) and the feature-length narrative ballet Sheherazade (2025).

Kafka: The Trial unwinds to music by Antonio Maria Bononcini, Dietrich Buxtehude, Henryk Górecki, Claudio Monteverdi and other composers, adroitly underlying the hero’s overwhelming loneliness, anxiety and desperation.

The work was first performed in 2015 at the Staatstheater in Hanover. The Czech premiere took place in June 2019. 

“Even though more than a century has passed since Kafka completed his novel, the production remains topical and continues to resonate with contemporary society in Europe and elsewhere alike,” adds Filip Barankiewicz, Artistic Director of the Czech National Ballet.

In the autumn of 2026, Bigonzetti’s Kafka: The Trial will return to the Estates Theatre. It will be accompanied by special ND+ events. The performances will be preceded by In Franz Kafka’s Footsteps guided tours of Prague, taking the participants to places connected with the celebrated writer’s life. 

The hats for the Czech National Ballet production Kafka: Proces were donated by TONAK, a. s., the traditional hat maker for 220 years.

 

The Czech National Ballet soloists and corps de ballet

 

Approximate running time: 1 hour 25 minutes, no intermission

Premiere: June 13, 2019

 

The Italian choreographer and designer Mauro Bigonzetti’s Kafka: The Trial brings to the stage the dark world tormenting Josef K. 

Cast

Creatives

Choreography: Mauro Bigonzetti

Music: Antonio Bononcini, Dietrich Buxtehude, Henryk Górecki, Carlo Gesualdo, Tarquinio Merula, Claudio Monteverdi, Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

Set and Light design: Carlo Cerri

Costumes: Mauro Bigonzetti

Assistant choreographer: Carlos Prado

Video projection: Carlo CerriOOOPStudio (Alessandro Grisendi, Marco Noviello)

Ballet master: Tereza Podařilová, Alexandre Katsapov, Jiří Kodym

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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