Městské divadlo Krnov Theatre building

Welcome. You've just stopped at a place that tells the story of ambition, art and the transformation of time. You're standing at a crossroads where history meets a modern spirit, right on the corner of the streets of St. Nicholas and E. F. Burian. Feel the atmosphere of this place, which lies in the part of the village known as Pod Bezručovým vrchem. In front of your eyes is a building that is not just an ordinary object of stone and mortar, but a living proof of human imagination. The City Theatre in Krnov now invites you to look at it differently than you are used to. Before you go any further, pay attention to what you're seeing right now. Feel those lines, those shapes that try to inspire emotion in a person. This building is not just a background for cultural events, it itself is an artistic work that stands right in front of you.

Now let's go deeper into the past and understand how this important object came into being. To understand its essence, we must return to a time when the world around us was changing very quickly. It was a time of great hope and search for new ways. It was in these years, namely between 1927 and 1928, that this building was invented and subsequently built. However, it was not intended only for one activity. At that time, the idea of modern life was a combination of different forms of entertainment. The theatre was supposed to be with the modern cinema, which was absolutely revolutionary at the time. Imagine the company that was meeting here to watch the latest paintings or experience living art. The entire construction process was completed with a solemn moment when the theatre first opened to the general public on 11 November 1928. It was a day that meant a new era of culture to the locals.

Now pay attention to the very form of the building that surrounds you. If you look at its walls and its overall structure, you'll notice something very special. This construction is one of the most important examples of what we call expressionist cubism. What does that even mean? If you look for simple, straight and predictable shapes, you won't find them here. The architecture of this theatre works with irregularities. It's a style that's not afraid of chaos that uses sharply cut shapes and geometric restlessness to express inner strength and dynamics. When you look at the facade or how the building connects to the surrounding space, notice how the lines are constantly breaking and changing. This approach was completely revolutionary at the time. The architect behind this visionary work was called Leo Kammel. It was his eye and his ability to see the world through expressive shapes that allowed Krnov to receive such a unique memory. Kammel did not seek mere usefulness of the building, but he wanted the building to speak of itself, to create astonishment and perhaps even a slight confusion, which is exactly what art wants to achieve.

Even though it may seem to us today that the people who lived in these areas, we know everything, history is often silent. We do not always have to tell us about specific personalities who played in these halls or who sat in the theatre in the first place. Yet we can imagine the fascination that people must have felt when they first entered this modern space. Imagine the dress, the voices and the expected joy of the new modern times. Although we may not know the names of individual viewers from 1928, their presence and enthusiasm for new technologies and new shapes are felt in every stone block of this building.

Now, I want to tell you one thing that might interest you and give this place even more weight. This building is not just a historical object that just stands in the street. It's the real treasure of our country. In 2005 this building was officially declared a cultural monument to the Czech Republic. This means that its value is recognised at the highest state level. The Ministry of Culture acknowledged that what Leo Kammel created is so unique and so important to our history and our identity that it must be protected for all future generations. It is a confirmation that even the irregular, restless and expressive architecture has its profound meaning and that such works constitute the soul of our national heritage.

Now that you know a lot more about this place than you did a few minutes ago, I suggest you stop for a while and just observe quietly. Try to look at how light is reflected from those irregular surfaces. Try to imagine how echoes of voices mingle with silence among the performances. This monument is there for you to inspire you and to remind you that even in solid stones there can be constant movement and constant change.

Thank you for spending this moment with us and for choosing to pay attention to this extraordinary monument. We hope that this view of the City Theatre in Krnov has brought you new views and that its extraordinary form will continue to fascinate you. We wish you a nice continued walk around and many other interesting experiences in discovering the history of this beautiful city. Goodbye.