Miniatura Stage
Kraków Artists: Theatre, Cabaret and Film
A small stage behind the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, at Holy Spirit Square 2, in operation since 27 March 1976. It is housed in the theatre's former power station, known as the House of Machines, built in 1893 to a design by Jan Zawiejski, who also designed the main theatre building. The villa-like building in Neo-Renaissance-Secession style concealed an engine room; it got the name House of Machines because the machinery inside was then entirely new. The power station stopped working in 1906, when the new municipal power station in Kazimierz was able to supply the whole of Kraków.
History
Scena Miniatura (the Miniature Stage) is the small stage of the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, tucked away behind it at Świętego Ducha Square 2. It has been running since 27 March 1976, and many directors made their debut here, including Krystian Lupa.
It is housed in the theatre's former power station, built in 1893 - one of the earliest in the city. It was designed by Jan Zawiejski, the same architect who created the theatre's main building. The small building takes the form of a villa in a Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau style: the attractive structure with a small chimney was meant to hide the engine room. It was popularly called the House of Machines (Dom Machin), because the machinery inside was a complete novelty at the time, and combining art with technology was considered pretentious and tactless.
The engines and generators were made in Germany. They were brought to Kraków by the Czech company of František Křižík, which later started up two more power stations in the city. The theatre power station stopped working in 1906, when the new municipal power station in Kazimierz was able to supply the whole of Kraków. After conversion the building was adapted for new purposes and today it serves the stage.
Did you know?
The theatre building itself was the first in Kraków to have electric lighting installed. The former power station is one of the sites on the Kraków Technology Trail, established on 6 April 2006.