WOW Show · 65 minutes
A wordless, interactive black light show at Theatre Broadway on Na Příkopě, with no intermission and unnumbered seats.
See dates and tickets ↗Why it works
A theatre where the dark is the stage
Performers you are not meant to see
The cast wears black costumes, gloves and masks in front of black fabric, so under UV light only the painted props and glowing costumes show. That is how objects seem to float and a dancer can seem to hover in mid-air.
A story told without words
The theatre tells of a man searching for himself, who frees a child trapped in a web of fear with help from magic beings. Music, colour and movement carry it, so nothing needs translating and there are no subtitles.
The audience is part of it
Audience participation is welcome. The theatre says giant fluorescent balloons come down from the ceiling during the show, and that snow and rain fall inside the auditorium.
A Czech speciality
Prague's national tourist board calls black light theatre a Czech phenomenon and says the city became its world base after the Velvet Revolution. This show plays in the middle of the city, on the pedestrian street Na Příkopě.
After the lights go out
What happens when the lights go out
The show is a run of visual scenes, not a script. Here is the night in the order the light changes.
- 01
Doors and seats
The entrance opens about 30 minutes before the start. Seats are not numbered, so you pick where to sit when you arrive.
- 02
The room goes black
The whole auditorium is plunged into complete darkness, and it has to stay that way. Even one weak ray of light can give the illusion away.
- 03
The cast you cannot see
Performers in black costumes, gloves and masks move in front of black fabric. Your eye cannot tell them from the background.
- 04
UV finds the paint
Ultraviolet light makes fluorescent dye glow. Props and costumes appear out of nowhere and seem to hang in the air.
- 05
The room joins in
The performers move through the audience and respond to its reactions. The theatre adds balloons from the ceiling, snow and rain.
- 06
Lights up
After 65 minutes, with no intermission, the lights come back and you step out onto Na Příkopě.
Scenes, props and effects change from one performance to the next, so this describes the grammar of the night, not a set list.
In the dark, and on the street
Black light theatre in Prague, and the street the WOW Show is on
Stage photographs show black light productions in Prague, which share the technique. The street views show Na Příkopě and the theatre's entrance.
Door to seat
From the street to your seat
Six things worth knowing about the building before you walk in.
A passage with two doors
Theatre Broadway sits in the Broadway passage, which links Na Příkopě 31 with Celetná 38. You can enter from either street.
Doors and your ticket
The entrance opens 30 minutes before the start. Your ticket is a mobile ticket, ready right after booking, so nothing needs printing.
Pick your own seat
Seats are not numbered, and the theatre says the room has good visibility from every area. Booster seats are available for small children.
Dark means dark
Cameras, smoking, alcohol and drugs are not allowed. The effect depends on total darkness, so keep phone screens off once the show begins.
Sixty-five minutes straight
There is no intermission. The show is non-verbal, with music and movement doing the talking.
Back onto the street
Na Příkopě links Wenceslas Square and Republic Square, and the metro stations Můstek and Náměstí Republiky are the nearest.
Three shows compared
Three Prague black light shows, side by side
| Show | What the booking covers | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| WOW Show · 65 minutes | A wordless, interactive black light show at Theatre Broadway on Na Příkopě, with no intermission and unnumbered seats. | Families and groups who want a spectacle and a chance to join in. |
| Srnec · 1.5 hours | A mime-based performance of Antología at Národní 20, with witty humour, dance and music throughout. | Anyone who prefers a classic, mime-led black light performance. |
| HILT · 70 minutes | A show in a small underground hall with 50 seats, opening with a short film about the theatre. Not for under-6s. | Adults and older children who like a close, offbeat room. |
| Booking terms | Each of the three offers a full refund when cancelled a day ahead, and each lets you hold a date now and pay later. | Travellers whose dates are still moving. |
Three black light shows
Black light bookings in Prague, compared
This page is about the WOW Show. Beside it sit two other Prague black light bookings, from other companies in other rooms, so you can fit the evening to your group.
Srnec · 1.5 hours
A mime-based performance of Antología at Národní 20, with witty humour, dance and music throughout.
See dates and tickets ↗HILT · 70 minutes
A show in a small underground hall with 50 seats, opening with a short film about the theatre. Not for under-6s.
See dates and tickets ↗More ways to fill a Prague evening
Doors, dates and metro
Plan the night
Choose the date first
The WOW Show is not on every night, so check the booking calendar before you plan the rest of your day. It lists the start time for each date, and your confirmation repeats it.
Arrive for the doors
The entrance opens about 30 minutes before the start. Seats are not numbered, and arriving then gives you the widest choice.
Your mobile ticket
The ticket lands in your booking app and your account on the website the moment you book. Hold it up on your phone at the door.
Getting there
Take the metro to Náměstí Republiky (line B) or Můstek (lines A and B), then walk along Na Příkopě to number 31. The passage also opens on Celetná.
What to leave behind
Cameras, smoking, alcohol and drugs are not allowed in the room. Keep phone screens off during the show, because the effect needs total darkness.
If plans change
Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later holds your date in the meantime without charging you.
Notes on black light theatre
Notes on black light theatre
Tickets, seats and the booking itself
WOW Show Prague: tickets and seats
Open seating, dates that aren't nightly, what the ticket covers and how the WOW Show compares with Prague's other black light theatres.
Open this note → The address, the dark and the hourWOW Show Prague: what to expect
Where Theatre Broadway is, which metro to take, what happens in the dark auditorium and who the WOW Show suits, checked against the theatre and tourism pages.
Open this note → Choosing between three showsPrague black light shows compared
Three wordless Prague black light theatres, from an interactive 65-minute show to a mime classic and a small underground hall, set side by side.
Open this note → The art formHow black light theatre works
UV light, black fabric and fluorescent paint: why performers in black vanish and painted props float, explained from the theatres' own pages and Wikipedia.
Open this note → A short historyWhere black light theatre began
From black-clad stagehands in Asia to the Prague companies of today: where black light theatre came from, and who is credited with its modern form.
Open this note → Around the theatreNa Příkopě before or after the show
A short walk around Theatre Broadway: the street built on a moat, the squares at its two ends and the metro line that runs beneath it.
Open this note →FAQ
Your questions, answered before you book
How long does the WOW Show last?
The show runs 65 minutes with no intermission. The entrance opens about 30 minutes before the start, so allow time on either side.
Do I need to understand Czech to follow it?
No. The show is non-verbal, and the story is carried by music, colour and movement. There are no spoken lines or subtitles to follow.
Are the seats numbered?
No. Seats are not numbered, and you choose where to sit when you arrive. Arriving as the entrance opens gives you the widest choice.
Can I film or photograph the show?
No. Cameras are not allowed. The illusion depends on complete darkness, and the theatre says even one weak ray of light can expose it.
Is it suitable for children?
The theatre and Prague City Tourism describe it as suitable for all ages, and the show has no spoken words. The room is fully dark, so think about how your child copes with that.
Does the show run every night?
No. The theatre lists performances on selected evenings, and the start time can change from date to date. Check the booking calendar before you plan around a date.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes. Cancel at least 24 hours before the show and the full amount comes back. Reserve now, pay later also lets you secure the date and settle the fare closer to the night.
Where is the theatre and which metro is nearest?
Theatre Broadway is in the Broadway passage at Na Příkopě 31, Prague 1, with a second entrance on Celetná. The nearest stations are Náměstí Republiky on line B and Můstek on lines A and B.
Wordless black light theatre in the middle of Prague.
Book the WOW Show ↗The fare changes with the date and your group size. Before you pay, the booking page adds it up in your own currency.