Hudební divadlo Karlín Theatre building

Hudební divadlo Karlín, also known as Music Theatre in Karlín, is a prestigious Czech music-entertainment theatre located on the outskirts of the village Karlín in Prague. Since 1945, this building has maintained its leading position in the opera and musical fields, providing it with the most prestigious theatre in Europe. The theatre is located near Florenc Metro Station and Prague's main bus station, which provides easy access for visitors.

The theatre has a rich history dating back to the 19th century, when it was originally founded as Théâtre Variareté. In the late 1970s, the Prague grain merchant Eduard Tichy decided to implement a business plan for the construction of a large variety theatre that could host diverse cultural events. He purchased land in Karlín and built a building according to the design of Prague architect Otto Ehlena. The construction was carried out by the construction business of František Kindla, with emphasis on the construction of the stage designed for maximum load due to the planned performance of trained animals. The theatre was opened on 27 August 1881 by the performance of the Royal Belgian Circus of the Director Edward Wulff.

After its opening, Théâtre Variareté became one of the most sought-after businesses of its kind on the European continent. The audience offered everything from artistic numbers and ventriloquist to theatre, film and revue. Supposedly, Charlie Chaplin or Stan Laurel hosted here in their early days. In 1897 there were other building modifications and in 1920 the family was sold varieté which served as a hall until 1939.

During World War II, the theatre served as the 2nd scene of the National Theatre under the name Provisional Theatre, later as a subsidiary scene of the Municipal Theatres. After 1945 there were listed operetta and musicals, which led to his renaming to Hudební divadlo Karlín. In the 1970s it merged with the Music Theatre in Nusla and gained another scene especially for operetta.

The theatre had the largest stage area in Prague, which was very convenient for show shows. Some television shows, such as the Televarieté and the Circus Humberto, were filmed here. In 2002 the historical building of the theatre was hit by floods and had to be reconstructed. During the reconstruction his performance was presented in the building of the Congress Centre.

Since the reopening in 2006, it has been on the agenda alongside the already mentioned Producers of Musicals such as West Side Story, Jekyll and Hyde, Singing in the Rain, Night in Karlstejn and Limonade Joe. In October 2008 the theatre presented the world premiere of the American musical Carmen with Lucia White. Since then, Hudební divadlo Karlín has become known for its modern repertoire, which includes both operetta and musicals live accompanied by an orchestra.

The theatre is currently very successful and completely sold out. The theatre no longer focuses on operetta, but only musical performances. In the season 2023 / 2024, a small scene with a capacity of 150 seats for a more familiar musical and visiting performances began to be used. The repertoire of the great scene currently offers 7 musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Dracula, Rebel, The Bodyguard, Angel of the Lord, Beetlejuice and the Ice Kingdom.

Hudební divadlo Karlín is not only a cultural heritage of Prague, but also a living testament to the history of Czech theatre art. Its rich history and modern approach to musicals make it a necessary destination for anyone who wants to discover Prague in its brightest light. It is a place where the past meets the present and where viewers can enjoy not only entertainment, but also cultural heritage, which is at the heart of Czech identity.