Estates Theatre

Prague, Czech Republic

The Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo) is a historic theatre in Prague. It was built during the late 18th century in response to Enlightenment thought regarding general access to the theatre, and theatres themselves demonstrating the cultural standards of a nation. The Estates Theatre was designed by Anton Haffenecker and built in a little less than two years for the aristocrat František Antonín Count Nostitz Rieneck.

Prague's first standing public theatre, the Sporck Theatre, operated from 1724 to 1735. The owner of this theatre, Count Franz Anton von Sporck, permitted the free use of it to subsidize the commercial venture of the Venetian impresario Antonio Denzio. The next commercial theatre, the Kotzentheater, operated sporadically from 1739–1783 under a series of Italian impresarios. The final closure of the Kotzentheater coincided with the opening of Count Nostitz’s Nostitzsches Nationaltheater. The theatre opened in 1783. The building itself was constructed in a Neoclassical style and remains one of the few European theatres to be preserved in its almost original state to the present day.

The Estates Theatre has undergone several changes in its history. It first acquired the name Royal Theatre of the Estates in 1798 when it was purchased by the Czech Estates. With the opening of the Provisional Theatre in 1862, the Theatre of the Estates was dedicated to a German ensemble and renamed the Royal Provincial German Theatre. During the period between 1920 and 1948 the theatre regained the name Theatre of the Estates and became affiliated with the National Theatre. In 1948 the theatre was renamed the Tyl Theatre and would be known as such until 1990 when, at the end of an eight-year reconstruction project, it became known again as the Estates Theatre.

The Estates Theatre currently offers performances of dramas, ballets and operas with the focus of the opera company on the work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A more contemporary claim to fame originates from the Oscar-winning film Amadeus, directed by Czech director Miloš Forman. The scenes of Mozart in Prague were shot at the Estates Theatre for authenticity.

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Founded: 1783
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Czech Republic

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Yana Shevchenko (14 months ago)
I had an opportunity to act and sing on this famous stage. On of the best experiences of my life. So magical!
Iuliia Andrieieva (14 months ago)
I was there at an excursion. It was wonderful: the guide was very good, one could see that he is very interested in what he is doing. The theater is amazing.
Michael Elin (14 months ago)
Very historical, very nice architecture but also very compact. Unfortunately the performance (Le nozzle di Figaro) was following an (very) alternative take and was really boring. Which does not allow us to enjoy it till the end.
Heloisa Teymourian (19 months ago)
We watched Don Giovanni at this theater. It's beautiful and... this is actually where Mozart first presented Don Giovanni. It couldn't get any better!! Drinks are available at the bar downstairs during the intermission. I liked to have the subtitles on the screens. This is the first opera I watched that had the screens with subtitles telling the story. Prices are very inexpensive for good seats in Prague.
Karl Joseph Martin (20 months ago)
Spectacular experience watching Leonce and Lena at The Estates Theatre. Magnificent Theatre. I fell in love with the interior. Sat in A16 and it was a very good seat. Very good view. You can also see the orchestra while they’re playing. Leg room can be improved but not bad. I paid approximately £35 for my seat.
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