The exhibition commemorates 130 years of history of the Karlovy Vary Theatre building

Karlovy Vary - The building of the theater in Karlovy Vary will celebrate 130 years since its establishment this year. The exhibition in the Karlovy Vary Regional Library recalls the history of the building, its former appearance, and unexpected moments, such as the discovery of a time capsule with documents during reconstruction in 1998. CTK was told this by the library director Vratislav Emler.

The anniversary will be celebrated on May 15, exactly, as the theater opened in 1886. "Although the exhibition is not extensive in its content, there are many interesting things here. Among the most valuable and interesting items on display are posters from 1817, when the old building still stood on the site. But of course, we also have items that relate directly to the current building. There is a time capsule that was found during the renovation in 1998, which contained very valuable documents from the time of the theater's construction,” said Emler. The capsule contained invitations, coins, and a list of all the craftsmen who participated in the construction of the theater.

Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to view the building's architectural plans and technical equipment, period photographs of the theater's exteriors and interiors, theater programs, and snapshots from theater performances. The exhibition pays special attention to a rare painted curtain, which is the work of brothers Gustav and Ernst Klimt and Franz Matsch. The exhibition will last until the end of May.

The old theater building stood on the site of the current theater until 1884, when it was demolished due to an unsatisfactory interior. The new theater was successfully constructed in just 20 months. The project was designed by the Vienna studio of Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The theater underwent several renovations in the 20th century, the last being from 1997 to 1999.