Summer Theatre

Art for everyone

28 May 23

29 May 23

The iconic Summer Theatre on the "great lawn"

In March 1870, construction of the Summer Theater began in the Saxon Garden, on the site known as the "Great Lawn." The theater was supposed to act as a "replacement" during the renovation of the Grand Theater (which is why it had a stage of the same size), but it survived much longer. It burned down in September 1939.

The big attraction

The wooden building of the Summer Theater was 25 meters high, had an auditorium for 1500 people, and towered over the Saxon Garden, becoming a great attraction of the park. The first performance, Offenbach's "Beautiful Helena," took place in July 1870. The acoustic qualities of the new stage were quickly recognized, so the repertoire included musical theater and comedy. Music from both rehearsals and performances spread throughout the Garden, enchanting audiences and numerous passersby.

Mural

"Cracovians and Highlanders"

Unusual view from the windows

The mural, which Teatro Hotel**** guests can see from their room windows, was inspired by the history of the Summer Theatre. It illustrates the opera "Cracovians and Highlanders" staged there in 1870.

Art and ammunition storage

The most outstanding artists performed on the stage of the Summer Theatre: Józef Redo, Władysław Szczawiński, Rufin Morozowicz, Wiktoria Kawecka and Lucyna Messal, and in the interwar period - Mieczysława Ćwiklińska and Antoni Fertner. On September 2, 1939, the last performance was staged - Nestroy's "A Heart in Dilemma," adapted by Julian Tuwim and directed by Leon Schiller. A week later, the theater, which had been used as an ammunition depot, was bombed and wiped off the "great lawn."