Salesiánské divadlo

Salesiánské divadlo (Salesian Theatre) is a small, community-rooted theatre venue attached to the Salesian Youth Centre in Prague's Kobylisy district, right next to the Kobylisy metro station on line C. It sits far from the usual tourist trail, but its story offers a compact lesson in how a local cultural space survived decades of political upheaval.

How the building came to be

The theatre hall was built in the second half of the 1930s as part of a larger complex, the Salesian Youth Institute, raised beside the Salesian chapel (today's Church of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus) on Kobyliské náměstí. Construction began in July 1936 on the initiative of Cardinal Štěpán Trochta, who also became the institute's first director. The whole complex, theatre hall included, was completed in 1937. At the time, the institute served as a temporary home for roughly two hundred boys, and the theatre space was used for gatherings, performances, and the educational activities run by the Salesian order.

Seized under communism

The building's fate changed dramatically at the turn of the 1940s and 1950s. In 1950 the entire Salesian house was confiscated by the communist authorities: the young residents were sent home, and the Salesians themselves were placed in internment camps or prisons. The theatre hall, however, didn't disappear from the district's cultural life. For the following decades it operated as a venue without a permanent company, running under the name Klicpera Theatre and managed by the local district cultural centre. During this period the building lost its original religious and educational character, becoming simply a neighbourhood stage.

A return to its roots after 1989

The real turning point came in the early 1990s. At the end of 1991 the theatre space was formally released, and it took back the name Salesiánské divadlo, which it still carries today. At the same time, part of the former complex resumed its function as an oratory — a meeting and activity space for young people — reconnecting the site with its pre-war Salesian identity.

What the venue is today

The hall seats close to four hundred people, making it a fairly sizeable space for a local district theatre. It continues to operate in close connection with the Salesian Youth Centre in Kobylisy, a place that blends educational, pastoral, and cultural traditions. For residents of Prague 8, it remains one of the few spots in the district where theatre performances, community events, and local gatherings regularly take place.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Salesiánské divadlo located? On Kobyliské náměstí in Prague's Kobylisy district (Prague 8), right next to the Kobylisy metro station on line C.

When was the building constructed? Construction began in July 1936 and was completed in 1937, as part of the Salesian Youth Institute complex.

Has the theatre always had this name? No. During the communist era, after the property was seized in 1950, the venue operated under the name Klicpera Theatre. The name Salesiánské divadlo was restored only after 1991.

How many seats does the hall have? The auditorium holds around 397 seats.

What is the venue connected to today? The theatre operates as part of the Salesian Youth Centre in Kobylisy, combining cultural programming with the Salesian order's educational and pastoral traditions.