Lesní divadlo Sloup

Lesní divadlo Sloup v Čechách (the Forest Theatre of Sloup) is a natural amphitheatre carved into sandstone rock on the edge of the village of Sloup v Čechách, in the Liberec Region of northern Czechia. The stage sits in a shallow rocky hollow on the southwestern foot of the Na Stráži sandstone promontory, roughly half a kilometre south of the village centre — one of the few places in the region where plays are performed literally within the living rock.

How did this theatre come to be?

The idea of building a summer stage in the forest emerged in 1920, when a local theatre society was founded in Sloup. The land was made available by Count Augustin Kinský, who owned the surrounding estate at the time. Construction followed a design by the painter Rudolf Ringel and began that same year; the total cost came to around 50,000 crowns, a considerable sum for the period.

When did it open, and with what play?

The theatre held its grand opening on Whit Sunday in 1921. The inaugural performance was Gerhart Hauptmann's play "The Sunken Bell" — a fitting choice, since its fairy-tale forest setting mirrored the natural rock scenery perfectly. From that point on, open-air theatre was staged regularly in Sloup for years.

What does the structure look like?

The stage is built directly into the rock massif, featuring a cylindrical tower and backstage areas hidden behind the stone wall. A shallow trench in front of the stage once served as an orchestra pit. The auditorium spreads across the opposite slope of the ravine, and additional passages and chambers were carved into the rock to serve as wings and storage. At its peak, the venue could seat an estimated 1,600 to 2,000 spectators on wooden benches set directly into the rocky hillside.

What happened to it over the following decades?

Starting in the 1960s, the theatre fell into decline. Without regular upkeep, the wooden stage and seating structures deteriorated significantly, and the venue largely disappeared from the region's cultural life for decades.

What is it like today?

The turning point came in 2004, when a grassroots initiative led by residents of Sloup restored the site. A new stage platform was built, seating for around 250 spectators was installed, access paths were laid out and lit, benches were added along the way, and the site was connected to the electrical grid. Since then, regular summer performances have returned to the venue, and thanks to the unique rock-ravine setting, they carry an atmosphere that's hard to replicate in any conventional theatre.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Lesní divadlo located? About half a kilometre south of the centre of Sloup v Čechách, in a rocky hollow at the foot of the Na Stráži sandstone promontory.

How many people can the auditorium hold today? Following the 2004 reconstruction, the venue seats around 250 spectators — considerably fewer than the 1,600–2,000 capacity it had between the world wars.

When do performances take place? The theatre season runs through the summer months, when weather permits open-air plays in the natural rock setting.

Can the site be visited outside the theatre season? Yes, the location is accessible as a sightseeing stop on hiking routes through the Českolipsko region regardless of the performance schedule.