Agatha Christie’s great novel about crime and punishment as presented by the Mad and Merry Men, in an unusual setting, in English.
On a journey from Istanbul to Calais, a group of strangers who couldn’t be more different meet in the most luxurious train in the world: among them a countess, a seedy businessman, a governess, a soldier and a princess. But when they get stuck in the middle of a snowstorm, tensions begin to rise.
The next morning, one of the passengers is found murdered, and as his dark past is revealed, the number of suspects grows… But the world’s greatest detective also happens to be travelling with him, and he won’t let the killer get away with it.
On May 12, 18, 19, and 26, you can attend the theatre adaptation on „Murder on the Orient Express”, considered Agatha Christie’s most famous novel.
Even Christie herself considered it to be the best case involving her most beloved creation, the Belgian Detective (and Dandy) Poirot!
Presented by “The Mad and Merry Men” in an unusual setting – the Second-Empire Ballroom of Spektrum Karlín, a venue that itself carries an old-word elegance – by a 10-people ensemble of award winning actors from all over Europe.
And not only that: The stage will be in the middle of the Room, like a run way, or rather: A Train track.
- Tickets via GoOut.net here
- Normal Admission: 400 CZK / Student Admission 300 CZK
- Produced by The Mad and Merry Men
- Directed by Gordon L. Schmitz
April 30th is a special day in the Czech Republic as it is a celebration of pálení čarodějnic which means “witch-burning”.
There are several interpretations regarding the roots and meaning of Čarodějnice. But experts most commonly believe that this ceremony is meant to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
The night of April 30th is considered magical and was originally celebrated at midnight. People believed that on this night, witches gather together.
So, families lit fires to protect themselves from evil. Today, pálení čarodějnic is a family holiday. Young and old gather around the fire. Girls dress as witches, families grill sausages, play music, dance, and sing.
It’s also one of the most significant outdoor events of the year and is usually held in every Prague’s district.
In Karlín you will find great food, drinks and fun for the whole family. Live music by DJ Hlava, and from 13:00 – 16:00 the Lovesong Orchestra.
You can also look forward creative workshops, the popular face painting and gingerbread decorating workshop. Children will have lots of fun on the trampolines, carousel, train and bouncy castle.
Find all the info here.
In the future years, the Prague 2 Municipal District will continue its anti-graffiti campaign. It has been in operation since 2010.
In just one year, 3,206 square metres of graffiti were erased in Prague 2, at a cost of more than CZK 2.6 million.
Last year, the area of undesired graffiti removed from building facades topped 1,400 square meters, while the area of parks exceeded 1,700 square meters.
The initiative involves 711 houses, and demand grows year after year, with over 100 additional sign-ups last year alone. “Prague 2 is a lovely residential area with many historically significant buildings and a distinct genius loci.” “We don’t want any spray-painted houses or monuments,” stated Alexandra Udženija (ODS), Mayor of Prague 2.
However, the number of vandals is on the rise. “The number of illegal graffiti on Prague 2’s territory has recently increased. As many as half of all citizen complaints that I receive are over illegal graffiti and drawings, both in public and on the façade of private houses. And the damage to historic and listed buildings is increasing,” stated Deputy Mayor Jan Recman (ODS).
The removal technology combines mechanical washing with high-pressure hot water and chemical agent application. The process needs a great deal of human work.
Right on the spot, operators carry out testing, based on the information about the surface (plaster type, façade paint, damage seriousness etc.) and the quality of the paint, and decide on the combination of water pressure and temperature and the use of chemicals, together with the technological procedure.
Prague’s residents can report graffiti to the municipality using a mobile application called “Bez Graffiti”.
- The ruling government of Petr Fiala has received the worst rating from the public since the cabinet of Petr Nečas in 2013, suggests a new survey conducted by the CVVM polling agency. Sixty-nine percent of people said they were dissatisfied with the activities of the ruling coalition, while 63 percent rated Prime Minister Fiala negatively.
- The inflation rate in the European Union decreased to 8.3 percent in March from the February value of 9.9 percent, the lowest since last May, according to the European statistical office Eurostat. In the Czech Republic, inflation fell to 16.5 percent from 18.4 percent in February, roughly double the EU average.
- From Thursday it will no longer be compulsory for people in Czechia to spend seven days in isolation if they test positive for Covid-19. A Ministry of Health edict ending that requirement has just entered the country’s statute books. However, doctors and hygiene station staff will be able to order seven-day isolation in individual cases.
- Vysoké Mýto in the Pardubice Region has been named Czechia’s Historical Town of the Year 2022. The award recognises the best use of funding to renovate historical landmarks provided by the Ministry of Culture. It comes with a financial reward f of CZK 1 million, to be used for further monument care.
- The director of the Czech counterintelligence organisation, Security Information Service (BIS), Michal Koudelka, is expected to be promoted to the rank of general in May. The government on Wednesday approved a proposal for President Petr Pavel make the promotion, Labour Minister Marian Jurečka told reporters after the meeting.
The recent figures provided by the European Office for Statistics, Eurostat, have revealed that in February of this year, Germany granted a total of 25,125 temporary protection statuses for Ukrainian refugees, thus becoming the country that granted the most temporary protection so far.
Such data also show that second place was taken by Poland with 24,905 temporary protection statuses, followed by the Czech Republic with 9,775 and Romania with 7,920.
Based on the Eurostat report, compared to January 2023, the number of decisions granting temporary protection to Ukrainians in February fell in 19 of the 26 EU members.
The biggest decreases during February were observed in Poland with -3,540 compared to January of this year. Next comes Germany with -3,080, the Czech Republic with -2,630 and Romania with -1,035.
On the other hand, the most significant growth was recorded in Ireland and Finland with +540 and +520 respectively.
As of February 28, the highest number of Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection was registered in Germany with 1,000,530 and Poland with 989,080.
In addition, compared to the population of each EU member state, the highest ratios of Ukrainian citizens granted temporary protection per thousand people during February were recorded in Cyprus (1.1) and the Czech Republic (0.9).
During the same period, among the European countries that granted the most temporary protection statuses for Ukrainian children under the age of 18 is again Germany with a total of 7,725 representing 31 per cent of the Ukrainians who were granted protection in this country, followed by Poland (6,070, 24 per cent), Romania (2,590, 33 per cent) and the Czech Republic (2,550, 26 per cent).
Furthermore, Eurostat’s figures also revealed that in January of this year, Eurostat has revealed that in the first place for granting the most temporary protections to Ukrainians was Poland with a total of 28,445 protection statuses.
According to Eurostat, Germany ranks second after Poland with 28,205 protection statuses, followed by Romania with 8,955 and Spain with 4,250.
The same source pointed out that compared to December 2022, the number of temporary protection statuses granted in January 2023 fell to 21 of the 25 EU members.
As for the decreases during January, the most were observed in Poland with -3,415 compared to December last year, followed by Romania with -2,305, Italy and Ireland both -2,000, while the biggest increase was recorded in Germany with +3,095.
Czech breweries produced 20.55 million hectolitres of beer last year, an increase of 950,000 hectolitres over the previous twelve months.
Beer consumption per capita has also increased from 129 to 136 litres per year. Although beer output has increased following a two-year fall, it is still approximately one million hectolitres lower than it was in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic reached Czechia.
Non-alcoholic beers, including flavoured versions, increased by 13% year on year to 1.3 million hectolitres.
However, beer sales at pubs are at their lowest level in decades, to data from the national brewers association.
In 2009, nearly half of beer was consumed in pubs and restaurants; last year, the ratio was 31%. Lager, an eleven- to twelve-barrel bottom-fermented beer, remains the most common variety of beer. Lagers make for more than 56% of total production, while draught beer accounts for roughly 40%.
15.6 million hectolitres of beer were sold in the domestic market, one million hectolitres less than in 2019. Czech beer exports climbed by 2% year on year to 5.4 million hectoliters in 2022, matching the level of exports in 2019.
The majority were shipped to Slovakia, Poland, and Germany. Foreign beers account for only 3.4 percent of Czech consumption.
Breweries spun the most brewed beer into classic beer bottles, accounting for 39 percent of total production. Thirty-one percent were bottled in kegs. Cans of beer accounted for 19% of the beer market. The proportion of beers in PET bottles declined from 10% to 8%.
According to the association, beer production is being affected by rising prices, economic uncertainty in the market and changing consumer habits. The share of locally brewed beer sold in pubs and restaurants rose by six per cent last year to 31 per cent of total production. In 2019, it was 35 per cent.
According to the association, changing consumer patterns may have significant ramifications for pubs in smaller towns and villages, where beer accounts for up to half of their revenues.
“Unfortunately, rising prices and economic uncertainty are keeping people at home more, which is having a negative impact on the catering sector, which has yet to fully recover from the pandemic’s harsh effects and is now facing new challenges. Furthermore, the government is currently considering raising VAT on catering services and draft beer, which could be the final nail in the coffin for many pubs,” said Martina Ferencová from the Czech Brewers and Maltsters Association.
The Czech government of conservative leader Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) has received the worst rating from the Czech population since 2013, according to a survey conducted by the Centre for Public Opinion Research of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CVVM).
The majority of Czech citizens are dissatisfied with the programme, activities, the composition of the government, and how the government communicates with the public.
For example, only 24% of the survey participants are satisfied with the composition of the government. Also, 69% of Czechs are dissatisfied with the government’s performance and the cabinet’s communication with the public is assessed negatively by 66%.
The current Czech government is composed of five parties – conservative Civic Democrats (ODS, ECR), Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL, EPP), conservative and pro-European TOP 09 (EPP), Mayors and Independents (STAN, EPP) and Czech Pirate Party (Pirates, Greens/EFA).
This government which promised to “bring the country back to West” during its election campaign, earned a worse rating than the previous populist and euro-sceptic government of Andrej Babiš (ANO, Renew).
Babiš’s party ANO is currently in opposition, preparing for European elections in May 2024. According to another opinion poll – Kantar – the ANO party remains the strongest party in Czechia with around 30% of general support.
The strength of the ANO party worries the ruling parties, which are already preparing their strategies for the EU elections.
A coalition of three conservative parties – Civic Democrats (ECR), Christian Democrats (EPP) and TOP 09 (EPP) – is thus considering running together in EU elections to defeat Babiš.
However, their position on EU matters differs significantly, with the TOP09 pushing for a strong pro-European voice while Civic Democrats represent a more Eurosceptic voice.
Two events under one roof! On April 22, at the Prague Job and Relocation Fair, you can find everything you need as an expat in the Czech Republic, from services to make your life easier to your dream job in an international company in Prague.
Whether you are a new graduate, an experienced professional, or just looking for a change, it is a perfect way to explore job openings across a range of sectors and find the best fit. The Prague Relocation Fair will help you understand the local regulations and culture, making your life as a Prague expat easier.
2023 Jobspin Job and Relocation Fair features top international companies from many sectors, including AT&T, Johnson and Johnson, Interhome, Amazon, Barclays, Expedia Group, Siemens, AB InBev, FLEETCOR/CCS Česká společnost pro platební karty, and many more.
Katerina Casadei, from the Jobspin organising team, said the event is an opportunity for employers, jobseekers, and investors to network, exchange experiences, and apply for jobs.
“This job fair is an important event for expat graduates and professionals looking to start their career in the Czech Republic, as we bring together the employers who are specifically interested in recruiting individuals among the Prague international community,” said Casadei.
Alongside the Jobspin Job Fair, the Prague Relocation Fair will present all the key services for foreigners, offering assistance to foreign residents in every aspect of their life in Prague and the Czech Republic.
Attendees will be able to meet and get free advice from housing and relocation experts, find out about expat-friendly kindergartens, get information from banks providing English-friendly services, ask for help from immigration experts, and learn more about car-sharing in Prague, among many other things.
Visitors will be able to meet teams of companies such as Raiffeisenbank, Hoppy Go by Skoda Auto DigiLab, The International Montessori School of Prague, Czech Visa Lawyer and Move To Prague Relocation Experts.
The event is family-friendly and pet-friendly. A children’s play area will be open all day for the children of participants, with prior registration on the main event website.
EXPLORING INSPIRING WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS FOR EXPATS
The fair features an accompanying program of expert presentations and workshops on topics including Czech taxes, immigration law, buying property as an expat, networking for job-hunting and career success, or handling difficult questions in a job interview.
Click here to read more about the Jobspin Job and Relocation Fair‘s program for 2023.
Roger Waters has announced a special live broadcast of his This Is Not A Drill tour show from the O2 Arena in Prague on May 25.
The worldwide live event will be distributed by Trafalgar Releasing in over 1,500 cinemas across more than 50 countries, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment.
Pink Floyd’s former leader kicked off the European leg of his This Is Not A Drill tour with two shows at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal on March 17 and 18.
Billed as his first ever Farewell Tour, the global cinema event, directed by Sean Evans, will give fans the chance to see and hear his critically acclaimed live show in full cinematic glory.
Described as “a stunning indictment of the corporate dystopia in which we all struggle to survive”, the film will include 20 Pink Floyd and Roger Waters songs, including Us & Them, Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Is This The Life We Really Want? and recent Waters song The Bar.
UK newspaper The Times has hailed the show as “one of the most eye-catching, imaginative, well executed examples of arena rock you’ll ever see.”
“We are excited to give fans around the world the opportunity to experience such an iconic concert performance live on the big screen,” says Tom Mackay, President, Premium Content, Sony Music Entertainment.
Tickets for the event will be available on Tuesday 25 April, when full cinema listings and times will be announced on the film’s website.
Watch the trailer below:
On Saturday, 22 April, the open-air part of the Prague Exhibition Centre, will host the first edition of the biggest Cycling Festival in Prague.
On site you can test a wide range of bicycles for children and adults. Bikes can be tested on the area of Holesovice Exhibition grounds as well as on individual off-road circuits.
Running from 10.00 to 20.00, Prague’s Bike Fest program includes the Big Air Show, the Bike Trial Show, workshops, a skills centre from the Ski and Bike Centre Radotín, a BMX pumptrack zone of the festival’s main partner Sazka, bike and e-bike testing, and thematic lectures.
However, the main programme will take place on the Brussels Road by the Marold Panorama and in the adjacent open-air venues, with lectures and interviews with riders & guests, including Teodor Kováč, Vašek Kolář, Martin Dražil and many others.
There will be a relaxation zone, a children’s skills center or a food zone with a wide range of refreshments.
The entire program is included in one entrance fee, you don’t have to pay anything extra on the spot or register anywhere.
Film and photo adrenaline from behind the scenes
Visitors can expect, for example, photographer Michal Červený, winner of the Czech Press Photo in the sports category, who will not introduce the topic of shooting the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and what it is like to be a photographer at Cape Epic.
Jan Kasl, one of the top action photographers, will next walk visitors through his most intriguing shots from the Red Bull Illume and explain how such images are made and what technique he employs.
There will also be film productions led by FullFace Productions and Bikes on Film, both of which have worked on numerous cycling-related video projects. FullFace Productions will show “Crash Reel,” a collage of unsuccessful shots and crashes, as well as the documentary “Kripl Trip” and an action video themed after the increasingly popular urban rides in South America.
Bikes on Film – three freeride mountain bikers who are also experienced filmmakers and photographers – combine their lifetime loves to create one-of-a-kind audiovisual works of art.
- The production of passenger cars in the Czech Republic grew by 31.5% YoY to 353,770 cars in Q1 2023, with 11.7% of production being electric cars. The Automotive Industry Association reported that Škoda Auto, Hyundai, and Toyota were the top performers.
- Some 593,000 International Student Identity Cards or ISICs were issued in Czechia last year, which is the highest figure out of all the 130 countries where the document is used to certify a student status. France, which is roughly six times larger in terms of population, came second.
- The minimum gross decent wage for a full-time job in Czechia that would cover the needs of an adult with a child, as well as leisure time and small savings, should be CZK 40,912. In Prague, it should be CZK 42,776 due to the higher cost of living. The estimate was presented by a team of experts from the independent and informal Platform for a Minimum Decent Wage at a press conference on Tuesday.
- Czech farmers have 40% more grains in stock than a year ago as surging Ukrainian exports to European markets have replaced Czech exports, the country’s Agriculture Association said on Tuesday, warning of a potential squeeze in storage capacity.
- Prague has closed its river embankments and the gates of the Čertovka canal in response to heavy rainfall and the risk of flooding. The aim is to prevent a rise in the level of the Vltava River, which could occur if the flow rate exceeds 450 cubic meters per second. This would trigger the first stage of flood activity.
Chicken restaurant chain Popeyes has confirmed plans to open six new restaurants in Czechia: the first ones in Prague, and Brno.
The popular American fast food chain is set to open in the Czech Republic in the next few months and has big aspirations.
Louisiana is recognized for its jazz and blues music scenes, as well as its vast swampland. However, for many, Louisiana is best recognized as the birthplace of Popeyes, one of the most prominent fast food franchises serving fried chicken specialties.
Popeyes first opened in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1972.
Popeyes already has 350 branches in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Overall it has 3,800 restaurants in 25 countries.
The first restaurant will open between August and September this year, right on Wenceslas Square in Prague, where it will occupy an area of around seven hundred square metres on two floors.
Similarly, Marko Blaevi, who is in charge of expanding the Popeyes brand in Central and Eastern Europe, did not reveal the additional two sites set to open in the Czech Republic.
“We have a lot of other projects in mind, but working on a single location can take two to three years, so opening our first restaurants just nine months after licensing the Popeyes brand is a huge accomplishment.”
If everything goes according to plan, eight more branches should open on the Czech market in the next two to three years, at least one more in Prague, specifically in the renovated Máj department store on Národní třída.
Popeyes serves chicken dishes in mild and spicy flavors and offers sides such as red beans and rice, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes with Cajun-style gravy, Cajun rice, macaroni & cheese, biscuits, and coleslaw.
In addition to chicken, Popeyes also serves seafood entrées such as shrimp and catfish.