Městské divadlo Zlín

Městské divadlo Zlín (Municipal Theatre Zlín) is the main theatre stage of Zlín, a functionalist city in eastern Czechia best known for its architectural legacy tied to the Baťa shoe company. The theatre ensemble that carries this name traces its roots back to 1946, when on 17 September its opening production, Jan Drda's "Hrátky s čertem" ("Playing with the Devil"), premiered in an adapted former chamber cinema building. That performance marked the start of an uninterrupted tradition of drama in the city.

How did the current building come to be?

The building the theatre occupies today was not its original home. In 1959 an architectural competition was announced for a new theatre building meant to replace the makeshift conditions of the converted cinema. The winning design came from architects Miroslav and Karel Řepa, later developed further by a team led by František Rozhon. Construction, carried out with several interruptions, lasted from 1960 to 1967 — nearly eight years, reflecting the scale and ambition of the project.

The new building, then named Divadlo pracujících (Theatre of the Working People), was ceremonially opened in November 1967. The opening production was Jaroslav Mahen's "Jánošík," based on the legendary Carpathian outlaw figure popular throughout the region.

What makes the building's architecture distinctive?

The theatre building is an example of representative 1960s architecture, richly finished in both materials and artistic detail, carrying features of the so-called Brussels style — a design trend popular across Central Europe following the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (Expo 58). The building's west façade is treated monumentally: the upper floor is fully glazed across its width, while the ground floor is set slightly back and emphasized by eight visible columns that appear to carry the floor above. The side façades, by contrast, are solid, clad in smooth, light-colored stone panels that contrast with the glazed front section.

This composition — with an exposed supporting structure and a clear division between a representative front zone and more restrained side elevations — was typical of important public buildings erected in Czechoslovakia during that period, intended to underline the standing of a cultural institution within the fabric of the city.

Why is Městské divadlo Zlín worth a visit?

For those interested in postwar architecture, the building offers an interesting example of the Brussels style preserved in an almost unchanged exterior form since its construction. For theatre lovers, it represents a venue with an unbroken tradition of over seventy years, one that has survived changes of name and political system while remaining the region's principal dramatic institution.

Frequently asked questions

When was theatre established in Zlín? The theatre ensemble has operated since 1946, while the current building was constructed between 1960 and 1967.

What was the current theatre building originally called? When it opened in 1967, it was named Divadlo pracujících (Theatre of the Working People).

Who designed the theatre building? The winning 1959 competition design came from architects Miroslav and Karel Řepa, later developed by a team led by František Rozhon.

What architectural style is the building associated with? The building shows features of the so-called Brussels style, characteristic of representative architecture of the 1960s.