Jakub Špalek (born 8 May 1968 in Brumov-Bylnice) is a Czech actor, theatre director and organiser. After graduating from DAMU he co-founded the Kašpar Theatre Company in 1990 and has run its home stage, Divadlo v Celetné in Prague, as director since 1994. He is best known for playing waiter Eda Drábek in Jan Hřebejk's musical Šakalí léta (1993), which won the Czech Lion for best film, and also appeared in Jan Svěrák's Jízda (1994). In 2025 he received the Thálie Award for the promotion of theatre arts.
Špalek spoke openly in an interview for Deník N about his battle with advanced-stage cancer - he admitted that he has metastases throughout his body and manages the pain with strong medications, yet continues to work in the theater.
Kašpar's Great Excursion celebrates its first round anniversary in 2026 - the summer open-air tour of the Kašpar society will visit, among other places, Kašperk Castle, Pořešín Castle, Lysice Castle, and the garden in Kochánky.
Špalek received the Thálie Award on November 1, 2025 on the stage of the National Theater for promoting theatrical art as principal of the Kašpar Theater Society.
In February 2025, Špalek's production of Shakespeare's King Lear premiered at the Theater in Celetná, whose open-air version was first presented in July 2024 at Kašperk Castle.
The Theater in Celetná presents Špalek's production of Cyrano de Bergerac (Edmond Rostand) with Martin Hofmann in the title role and music by Michal Pavlíček.
