The final farewell to actor Jiří Štěpnička (1947-2026) is taking place at the Národní divadlo in Prague. The National Theatre building opened its doors to the public at 10:30 for those wishing to pay their respects. The Pieta, a mourning ceremony, began at 11:00. Štěpnička was one of the most prominent faces of the Národní divadlo, where he began performing in 1975. His last role on the theatre’s stage was the character of Starý Manya in a dramatization of Karel Čapek’s Hordubal. The event marks the loss of a significant figure in Czech theatre.