The Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre is the city’s largest theatre and one of its top cultural attractions. Its varied programme of drama and musical performances delights theatre-goers throughout the year. Settle down for an evening of entertainment in an auditorium that’s also noted for its gorgeous artwork.
The theatre was constructed between 1884 and 1886 and was designed by Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, well-known Viennese architects responsible for the construction of several European theatres. It was built on the site of a previous theatre which had been in operation since 1788. Admire the current building’s beautiful neo-Baroque design, restored to its original 19th-century grandeur by renovation work in the 1990s. Among the highlights are the stone griffins that guard the building’s entrance.
Continue with your appreciation of the venue’s artistic flourishes once you are inside. There are Rococo lamps on the staircase and a magnificent hand-painted stage curtain, which depicts a poet surrounded by Muses and other figures. Look up at the four frescos on the theatre’s vaulted ceiling. These artworks include The Game of Chess by Franz Matsch and Fiesta at the Table by Gustav Klimt. These were the same artists who painted the curtain.
In addition to musicals, plays and comedies, the theatre stages talks by Czech and international authors. It is also one of the host venues for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which is held over 10 days every July. During the festival, tickets and day passes are available for movie showings that range from independent European films to Hollywood blockbusters.
Find the Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre in the centre of the town, not far from the Grandhotel Pupp. The theatre can be reached on foot or by public transportation from most downtown areas. Tickets for shows are available from the box office, Infocentrum tourist offices and the theatre’s website, where you will also find details of the performance schedule for the year.
