Czech Republic
The Czech National Theater includes several stages where all drama, opera and ballet performances are staged. The theater was founded in 1868, when the Czech lands were still part of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire. The people of Bohemia enthusiastically accepted the idea of creating a theater where performances would be in Czech, not German. The construction was financed by public donations under the slogan "Nation to Self" (Národ sobě; these words adorn the auditorium). The National Theater was originally intended to be a platform for Czech national art, but nowadays its repertoire also includes works of world drama and music. The chairman of the Society for the Construction of the National Theater was Count Jan Harrach, a Czech politician, public figure and patron of the arts. The theater was built in 1881 by architect Josef Zitek in the Neo-Renaissance style, but was soon destroyed by fire, which was perceived as a national disaster. After the fire, it was reconstructed in record time by Josef Schulz, a pupil of Zitek and author of another landmark building - the National Museum - and has been open again since 1883.
On the northern façade are statues of A. Wagner's "Zaboja" and "Lumira", on the attic are "Apollo and the Nine Muses" and "Goddess of Victory" by B. Schnirch. Above the side entrance there are allegories of Opera and Drama (the author is presumably Josef Václav Myslbek, widely known as the author of the statue of St. Wenceslas on Wenceslas Square). The ceiling of the auditorium is decorated with eight "Allegories of Art" (F. Ženišek). In the main foyer there is a pictorial triptych "Golden Age, Decline and Resurrection of Art" (by the same artist). The first production is the opera Libuše by Bedřich Smetana.
Gradually, in addition to the main stage, other theatrical venues were added to the National Theater. The most interesting of these is the Soslovní teatro, one of the oldest in central Europe (built in 1783), whose history is closely connected with W.A. Mozart: it was here that his famous opera Don Giovanni premiered in 1787. The National Theater also includes the small Kolovrat Theater, the New Stage and, more recently, the State Opera. Between 1976 and 1983, the theater was again renovated and expanded. For the centennial of the National Theater in 1983, the newly built New Stage building opened, which hosts performances of the theater's Magic Lantern (Laterna magica).
The National Theater is a repertory theater, every day the audience can see a ballet, drama or opera performed by the best artists. The repertoire corresponds to the status of a national theater: everything from classical plays to contemporary drama, amazing opera, wonderful ballet performances and new choreography are presented.
The National Theatre is the face of Czech theatrical life. It is a symbol of the Czech nation and an integral part of European culture. The theater preserves the cultural heritage of the country, but also opens the way for fresh experiments. Theater is a living creative organism, for which tradition is an incentive to constantly search for new solutions and to reach artistic heights.
At the Seventh International Theatre Festival "Alexandrinsky" the Czech National Theatre presented the comedy with zongs "What happened after Nora left her husband" by E. Elinek directed by the artistic director of the theater Michal Dočekal (May 18 and 19, 2013, Main Stage of the Alexandrinsky Theatre).
National Theater today
The dramatic company of the National Theatre consists of outstanding Czech actors of different generations. Alongside established actors are promising young people, yesterday's graduates of theater schools. Drama requires a great variety of actor types. And the repertoire of our three theaters is incredibly wide. We stage classic comedies and world-famous tragedies, invite stars, hold benefit performances, stage modern dramaturgy. This is the only way the National Drama Theater can meet the expectations of the public. Our artists are our main asset. They are the bearers of traditions, every day in their mouths the words of poets gain weight, they are the guarantee of the future of the theater. The troupe of the National Theater consists of representatives of different generations, but first-class professionals, so experience, living continuity are intertwined with young aspiration to new heights. It is a real pleasure to see it.
Michal Dočekal, Artistic Director of the National Theater.