Opava

Czech Republic

Moravskoslezský kraj

Opava District

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SILESIAN THEATRE OPAVA – HISTORY
The origins of the town of Opava date back to the 13th century. Opava, an ancient royal town, heart of the Opava principality and of Austrian Silesia later on, has experienced intense and complex economic and cultural development. Lately, the district capital of Opava with its 70 thousand inhabitants has once more attained the status of an important commercial and cultural centre. It seats a number of scientific and cultural organisations whose importance exceeds the scope of the region, e.g. Silesian Museum, Silesian University, Silesian Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, etc. It has also witnessed rapid expansion of banking houses. The beginnings of theatrical performances in Opava go back to the period between 1745 and 1750. In order to enhance its importance as the cultural centre of Austrian Silesia, the town of Opava built its own theatre. The foundation stone of the Provincial Theatre was laid on May 1st, 1804 and the opening performance was given on October 1st, 1805. The theatre was built according to what is known as Schikander’s model and decorated by the Vienna painter Saccheti. In 1854 the Town Council contacted the Vienna architect Eduard Kusche and ordered designs for a reconstruction of the theatre building which was never performed due to lack of money. In 1855 only minor repairs of the interior were accomplished and four years later the original oil lighting was replaced by new gas light. In 1861 hot-air heating was installed. Further reconstruction was begun on April 27, 1882. On September 20, 1883 the theatre was opened again. On June 16, 1909 it burnt down. The reconstructed parts and the interior were restored in the style of Louis Seize and were designed by the Vienna theatre painter Ferdinand Maser. This challenging renovation was finished still in 1909. After 1945 the building was reconstructed once more. In 1948 there was another change and the neo-Renaissance exterior had to give way to typical communist architecture, the change being widely criticised by the general public. After this episode, the building received further extensive adaptations from 1955 to 1957, at the same time when negotiations were launched for the building of the Silesian Theatre to appear on the national list of historic sights in view of its well-preserved interior. In 1986 reconstruction of the stage technique was being prepared when a more detailed survey revealed that the whole building was in need of overhaul. In 1988 and 1989 the Opava Building Society conceived designs for a complete reconstruction of the building including its exterior. After 1989, namely in May 1990, the pressure exerted by the general public and public institutions resulted in a change in the overall concept of the reconstruction and the building was once more supposed to acquire its original historic face from before 1945. The interior, however, was adapted to contemporary demands. The latest reconstruction was begun on January 1st, 1990 and completed in September 1992. The overall costs were close to 150 million Czech crowns. The Silesian Theatre in Opava is now active under the auspices of the Opava Municipality.

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