Juliusz Słowacki Theatre
Kraków Artists: Theatre, Cabaret and Film
The theatre opened on 21 October 1893 as the Municipal Theatre; since 16 October 1909 it has borne the name of Juliusz Słowacki. It stands on Holy Spirit Square, on the site of the Church of the Holy Spirit demolished in 1892. The eclectic building, with a predominance of Neo-Baroque, was designed by the Kraków architect Jan Zawiejski, and it was the first building in Kraków in which electric lighting was installed. The foundation stone was laid on 2 June 1891, and commemorative documents were placed under it by Helena Modrzejewska and Antonina Hoffmann.
History
The theatre on Świętego Ducha Square opened on 21 October 1893 as the Municipal Theatre. It has been named after Juliusz Słowacki since 16 October 1909. The building, designed by the Kraków architect Jan Zawiejski, was built in 1891-1893 on the site of the Church of the Holy Spirit, demolished in 1892. The building combines eclectic styles with neo-Baroque predominating, and it was the first building in Kraków with electric lighting.
The idea of building the theatre was first put forward in 1872 by the photographer and city councillor Walery Rzewuski. The foundation stone was laid on 2 June 1891, and the documents beneath it were placed by Helena Modrzejewska and Antonina Hoffmann. The first director was Tadeusz Pawlikowski. At the opening, excerpts from works by Mickiewicz, Słowacki and Fredro were performed, and for the next five weeks only Polish plays appeared on stage.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries the theatre enjoyed the finest period in its history. The city's artistic circles gathered around it, and Stanisław Wyspiański staged most of his works here. On 16 March 1901 "The Wedding" had its world premiere, regarded as one of the most important events in the history of Polish culture. In 1905 Wyspiański applied for the post of director, but the theatre was entrusted to Ludwik Solski, who, despite this rivalry, immediately invited the poet to work with him.
After the First World War, in 1921, the director Teofil Trzciński made Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz's debut possible by staging "Tumor Mózgowicz". In autumn 1939 the company had to leave the building, which for five years housed a German theatre. During that time a small group of Polish technical staff saved the theatre's library and the frescoes in Solski's dressing room from destruction. The theatre reopened on 19 February 1945. In the 1990/1991 season the first stage of a major renovation was carried out: the seats and floor were removed from the auditorium, and the audience watched performances from chairs set up on the stage, behind the lowered iron curtain.
Did you know?
In 1923 Teofil Trzciński staged Kraków's first monumental open-air performance: Jan Kochanowski's "The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys" in the courtyard of Wawel Castle.