Bagatela Theatre
Kraków Artists: Theatre, Cabaret and Film
A theatre at Karmelicka Street 6, on the corner with Krupnicza Street 1. Its history goes back to 1918, when Marian Dąbrowski, publisher of the "Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny", initiated the creation of a stage; the building was designed in 1918-1919 by Janusz Zarzecki and the interiors by the painter Henryk Uziembło. The consecration ceremony took place on 25 October 1919. In 1926 the theatre was converted into a cinema, and a fire on the night of 6 to 7 April 1928 completely destroyed the interior; in 1938 the building was modernised and named "Scala", the most elegant cinema in Kraków. Since 1973 the theatre has borne the name of Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński, and its facades are decorated with abstract ceramics from 1967 designed by Witold Skulicz.
History
The story of the Bagatela begins in 1918. That year the new stage was initiated by Marian Dąbrowski, publisher and editor of the daily "Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny". The building at 6 Karmelicka Street, on the corner of Krupnicza, was designed in 1918-1919 by Janusz Zarzecki, and the interiors were fitted out by the painter and decorator Henryk Uziembło. The stage was consecrated on 25 October 1919.
Because of financial difficulties, the theatre was turned into a cinema in 1926. On the night of 6 to 7 April 1928 a fire completely destroyed the interior. In 1938 the building was modernised to a design by Fryderyk Tadanier and named "Scala". The cinema-theatre, created and owned by Franciszek Moszkowicz, was considered the most elegant cinema in Kraków.
After the war, in 1945, the "Wesoła Gromadka" Children's Theatre opened in the building. In 1948 it was renamed the Young Audience Theatre, and ten years later the Variety Theatre. The name Bagatela returned in 1970, and three years later the theatre was named after Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński.
The Bagatela also has a smaller stage at 7 Józefa Sarego Street. That building once housed a Masonic lodge and a casino for Jewish officers, and later a storeroom of Cricoteka. The stage opened on 7 May 2004 with the premiere of Sibylle Berg's "Dog, Woman, Man", directed by Andrzej Majczak.
Did you know?
The theatre's façades are decorated with abstract ceramics from 1967, designed by Witold Skulicz and made at the "Kamionka" cooperative in Łysa Góra.