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British comedian and television personality Mark Watson made his Czech debut last week at the Prague Fringe Festival, bringing his signature wit to the capital in three performances at the Metro Comedy Club in Malá Strana.
Known for appearances on UK shows such as *Taskmaster* and *Would I Lie to You?*, Watson was a featured act in this year’s edition of the festival, which showcases international talent in intimate venues across Prague. His visit marks the culmination of over a decade of discussions with festival founder Steve Gove.
Watson confirmed that this trip was his first to Prague, despite a long-standing interest in the region dating back to its Czechoslovakian days.
“I’ve performed all over the world, but for some reason, I’d never made it to Prague until now,” Watson said ahead of his second show on May 30. “Steve \[Gove] and I have spoken about it for over ten years. Every couple of years we’d meet at Edinburgh or even in Australia and say, ‘You should come to Prague.’ Last August, I finally followed up and said, ‘Let’s make this happen.’”
Watson arrived in Prague the day before his first show and headed directly to the theatre. Despite the short stay, he quickly developed an appreciation for the city’s architectural beauty and historical ambiance.
“There’s awe in the architecture and history here. It feels relatively unspoiled,” he observed. “Prague reminds me of cities like Vienna or Munich. There’s grandeur, space, color—and a real sense of identity.”
He also addressed the city’s reputation among British tourists. “Sure, Prague gets a lot of stag and hen dos, but walking through the historic center, it still feels like its own place—not overrun by tourism.”
Watson’s show at the festival, *Before It Overtakes Us*, draws inspiration from a personal encounter with artificial intelligence. After unknowingly conversing with a chatbot last year, he was prompted to reflect on the rapid evolution of technology and his place in a digitally shifting world.
“The show is partly a meditation on how technology is outpacing me,” said the 45-year-old comedian. “I’ve seen two decades of change, but now it’s really speeding up. It’s about that feeling of slipping behind.”
He noted that the Prague version of the show was adapted to the local context, mixing content from his UK tour with spontaneous crowd interaction. “It’s a small room and the audience is very close, so I’ve included a lot of improvisation and audience chat.”
Asked whether performing outside the UK requires changing his material, Watson said his comedy largely focuses on universal experiences rather than specific cultural references.
“Most of my shows aren’t reliant on current affairs or politics,” he explained. “That helps when performing to a mixed audience—last night’s crowd had Brits, Czechs, Poles, Germans, even Australians. You want to find common ground.”
Watson did note that audience feedback naturally shapes performance. “You always have to adjust a bit. At a longer festival, you can fine-tune over several weeks. Here, I’m still figuring things out—only 24 hours in.”
Watson joked that the British ambassador to the Czech Republic was expected to attend the show. “Apparently, he’s something of a celebrity here. If he shows up, that could be a great opportunity for some quality crowd work.”
As Watson continues his run at the Prague Fringe, his arrival underscores the festival’s mission to bring acclaimed global performers to Czech stages—sometimes after a decade of planning.
British comedian and television personality Mark Watson made his Czech debut last week at the Prague Fringe Festival, bringing his signature wit to the capital in three performances at the Metro Comedy Club in Malá Strana.
Watson confirmed that this trip was his first to Prague, despite a long-standing interest in the region dating back to its Czechoslovakian days.
