South Bohemian Theater

TOP - a recommended destination in České Budějovice

The Empire-style South Bohemian Theater building stands by the Malše River, next to the Golden Bridge (Zlatý most). The site of this historic building is among the oldest historic parts of České Budějovice. The city built a warehouse for the municipal brewery here in 1763. A year later, a part of the warehouse was converted to a simple theater for four hundred viewers, where only plays in German were staged until 1817. The new theater building on the site was opened in 1819 and has been rebuilt many times since. It is an interesting fact that dramatist J. K. Tyl made his last ever stage performance here in his own play, The Poor Juggler. His bust decorates the facade of the historic building to this day. Today, the South Bohemian Theater integrates four autonomous artistic ensembles: dramatic, opera, ballet, and, since 2004, a puppet ensemble as well.