Preamble
The National Theatre is the Czech Republic’s representative stage. It is one of the symbols of Czech national identity and a part of the European cultural arena. It is a bearer of national cultural heritage and at the same time an arena for free artistic creativity. The theatre is a living artistic organisation which understands tradition as imposing a task and duty to find constantly new interpretation and an endeavour to achieve the highest artistic quality.
The National Theatre today
Today’s National Theatre comprises three artistic ensembles – opera, drama and ballet – which alternate in performances in the historic building of the National Theatre, the Estates Theatre and the Kolowrat Theatre. All three artistic ensembles choose their repertoire not only from the wealth of classical references, but in addition to Czech authors also focus on modern international creative work.
History of the National Theatre:
The National Theatre
The National Theatre is the embodiment of the will of the Czech nation for a national identity and independence. Collections of money among the broad mass of the people facilitated its construction and hence the ceremonial laying of its foundation stone was tantamount to a nationwide political manifestation.
The idea of building a stately edifice to serve as a theatre was first mooted in the autumn of 1844 at meetings of patriots in Prague. The era of Bach’s absolutism brought to a halt preparations for the construction and gave rise to the concept of a modest provisional building. The Theatre’s foundation stones were laid at a ceremony on 16 May 1868. The National Theatre opened on 11 June 1881. During completion works, however, the building burnt down, which was considered a national disaster, and an immense resolve for new collections followed. The National Theatre building reopened on 18 November 1883 and served without any major refurbishments for almost a century.
Complete history of the National Theatre building…The Estates Theatre
The Estates Theatre is one of the most beautiful historic theatre buildings in Europe. Its construction was initiated by the enlightened aristocrat František Antonín Count Nostitz Rieneck, led by the desire to aggrandise his native city as well as the souls of its inhabitants. The construction lasted less than two years and the Theatre was opened in 1783. This project, extremely important for the Prague of the time, was in keeping with the zeitgeist of the late 18th century, a time when national theatres were being built at European courts, royal seats and cultural centres in the spirit of the Enlightenment idea that a generally accessible theatre is a moral institution demonstrating the cultural level of the nation.
The first, sporadic Czech-language performances took place in 1785. From 1812 onwards there were regular Sunday and holiday matinees. At that time, these performances became to a certain degree a political matter too. Thus arising in the difficult years following the failed revolution in 1848 was the idea of a Czech National Theatre.
Complete history of the Estates Theatre…Kolowrat Theatre
Taking place concurrently with the reconstruction of the Estates Theatre was renovation of the adjacent Early Baroque Kolowrat Palace, which has served as the Theatre’s operational building for a long time. Its beautiful façade was created in 1697 according to a design by Giovanni Domenico Orsi. Concealed behind it is the largely intact original two-wing monumental palace layout, which during its reconstruction was restored by removing the later degrading construction modifications. At the present time, the building houses the administration and dramaturgy of the Drama section, as well as rehearsal rooms.
Following a sensitive refurbishment, the spacious attic with its beautiful, largely preserved original truss allowed for the origination of an inspiring space utilisable not only as the Drama’s rehearsal room, but also as the “Kolowrat Theatre”, serving for staging chamber plays primarily based on concentrated dramatic work. The Kolowrat Theatre launched its activity on 2 December 1991 with the premiere of Felix Mitterer’s Visiting Hours.