Malé divadlo Liberec

Malé divadlo Liberec is the intimate chamber stage of the Divadlo F. X. Šaldy, tucked inside a historic building in the center of Liberec, close to the Jizera Mountains. It's a place where the building itself tells almost as compelling a story as the plays performed inside it.

Where did this stage come from?

The building now housing Malé divadlo spent decades serving very different purposes. A two-story inn called Prátr once stood on the site, and its reconstruction created a hall where performances were already being staged. Over time the complex grew to include a hotel, a restaurant and a gymnasium, and the whole building became known as the People's House, later the Workers' House. After the Second World War it fell into long-term disrepair.

The turning point came in 1986, when architect Karel Hubáček — a name closely tied to the Liberec region — drew up a reconstruction study for the site. Work continued for several years, and in September 1989 a new chamber stage of the Divadlo F. X. Šaldy was completed. It opened on September 14, 1989, with an adaptation of Bohumil Hrabal's novel "I Served the King of England." The venue was initially named Aréna, but that name never caught on, and today it is simply known as Malé divadlo.

What sets it apart from the main stage?

Malé divadlo functions as an intimate alternative to the main hall of Divadlo F. X. Šaldy. The theater isn't afraid to provoke, entertain and make its audience think — its repertoire leans toward contemporary works, often with direct ties to Liberec itself and local themes. The target audience is primarily young and open to unconventional theatrical formats.

The program includes both drama and dance productions. One of the stage's defining features is its flexible, variable layout: the arrangement of seating can be reconfigured depending on the production, letting directors experiment with the relationship between stage and audience and heighten the overall experience.

Why is it worth a visit?

Watching a show at Malé divadlo means sitting inside a building that has traveled from a roadside inn, through a workers' community house, to a modern theatrical stage — a rare blend of Liberec's industrial past and its present-day cultural life. For visitors exploring Liberec beyond the standard sightseeing route, an evening here offers a glimpse of the city through the eyes of its local arts scene.

Frequently asked questions

What is Malé divadlo Liberec? It is the chamber stage of Divadlo F. X. Šaldy in Liberec, housed in a repurposed historic building.

When was the current stage established? The new chamber stage opened on September 14, 1989, following a reconstruction based on architect Karel Hubáček's 1986 study.

What kind of repertoire does it stage? Mostly contemporary drama and dance productions, often connected to Liberec itself, aimed primarily at a younger audience.

Did the building serve other purposes before becoming a theater? Yes — it previously housed the Prátr inn, and later a complex with a hotel, restaurant and gymnasium known as the People's House, then the Workers' House.