The National Moravian-Silesian Theatre is a theatre in Ostrava. It was founded after the First World War on the initiative of an association that wanted to build a Czech theatre in Ostrava, and since 1920 it has had its permanent seat in the building of today's Antonín Dvořák Theatre [1].
The National Moravian-Silesian Theatre is a theatre in Ostrava. It was founded after the First World War on the initiative of an association that wanted to build a Czech theatre in Ostrava, and since 1920 it has had its permanent seat in the building of today's Antonín Dvořák Theatre [1].
Foundation
The idea of an association that would build a Czech theatre in Ostrava was put forward in 1918 by Jan Prokeš. The preparatory work was done by a committee chaired by Ferdinand Pelc, with Jan Prokeš and Konstantin Grünwald as vice-chairmen. The association National Moravian-Silesian Theatre came into being on 13 October 1918 at a ceremonial general meeting held in the town hall of Slezská Ostrava [1].
The theatre began its activity on 12 August 1919 in the building of the Municipal Theatre, today's Antonín Dvořák Theatre, with a performance of Smetana's The Bartered Bride. From the start it had four ensembles: drama, ballet, opera and operetta [1]. The first director was Václav Jiřikovský, who held the post until 1923. The first head of opera was Emanuel Bastl and the first head of ballet Achille Viscusi [1].
Seat and first seasons
In the 1919/1920 season the ensemble performed alternately in two buildings: in the Municipal Theatre, where it alternated with a German ensemble, and in the National House, today's Jiří Myron Theatre. In 1920 the Municipal Theatre building became the permanent seat; the German ensemble moved to the Deutsches Haus [1].
In 1920 director Jiřikovský decided to dissolve the operetta ensemble, but operetta continued to be staged by the opera ensemble. The operetta ensemble was restored in 1923 [1]. In spring 1923, from March to May, the theatre was run by a five-member board whose members were František Uhlíř, Karel Kügler, Achille Viscusi, Emanuel Bastl and Aleš Kovařík. On 11 February 1923 the opera orchestra gave its first concert performance, conducted by Emanuel Bastl. From 1923 František Uhlíř was director, until 1925 [1].
The 1920s and 1930s
In 1924 Milena Fuchsová became head of ballet, and in 1925 the theatre was taken over by a theatre commission made up of Bohuš Tichý, Karel Prox, Emanuel Bastl, Ladislav Knotek and Leopold Dostal as chairman, which served until 1926. Richard Stuchlý then became head of ballet [1]. Miloš Nový was director from 1926 to 1930 [1].
In 1927 Jaroslav Vogel became head of opera, a post he held until 1943. In the same year Max Semmler joined as head of ballet, and briefly also Loris Relský, who stayed until 1928. On Vogel's initiative a series of regular symphony concerts played by the theatre's enlarged orchestra began on 10 January 1928; the soloists included Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith and Sergei Prokofiev [1].
On 7 October 1929 the Studio NDMS came into being with the staging of Eugene O'Neill's play The Hairy Ape, the first experimental presentation of theatrical avant-garde in Ostrava. Also in 1929 the Ostrava studio of Czechoslovak radio began broadcasting live transmissions of operas and symphonic works prepared by the theatre [1]. Saša Machov was head of ballet from 1929 to 1934, and in 1934 he was succeeded by Jaroslav Häusler, who stayed until 1938 [1].
Ladislav Knotek was director of the theatre from 1930 until 1939. Jan Škoda became the first appointed head of drama in 1930. In 1931–1932 the drama company had no head and Škoda guested as a director; from 1932 to 1937 he was head again [1]. In October 1936 the Club of Czech and German Theatre Workers was formed, expressing anti-fascist solidarity [1].
On 24 October 2026 the theatre's drama company is to give, at the Jiří Myron Theatre, the premiere of Orchestra Rehearsal, based on the film by Federico Fellini, directed by Vojtěch Štěpánek. [2] The set was designed by Petr Vítek and the costumes by Vladimíra Pachl Fomínová. [5] The stage adaptation of Fellini's 1978 film was written by Martin Stropnický, and the title role of the conductor will be played by Kateřina Breiská. [5]
In its 108th season the drama company intends to stage also the comedy Who Is the Boss Here? after the film by Lars von Trier. [2]
The theatre's opera presented on 15 October 2026 at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre the premiere of Verdi's Requiem, directed by the duo Skutr, which is the first funeral mass in the repertoire of the Ostrava opera. [3] The choreography was prepared by Jan Kodet, the scenography by Jakub Kopecký and the costumes by Simona Rybáková. [4] Musically the production was prepared by Marek Šedivý, and the 1875 version of the work was played. [4] The duo SKUTR had earlier staged in Ostrava also the operas The Excursions of Mr. Brouček and Juliette, or the Key to Dreams. [6] The theatre's director Jiří Nekvasil offered the duo SKUTR the staging of this work. [6]
The theatre education studio of the theatre coordinates the international project Limity, funded from the Erasmus+ programme, in which theatres from Bratislava and Warsaw cooperate. [7]
Each of the three theatres is to select six performers and four documentarists aged 18 to 25, who will create an original production intended for presentation in May 2027 at the "12" Theatre in Ostrava. [7]
The permanent dramaturg of the drama company is Pavel Gejguš, who is preparing the production The Boy Who Dreamed of Weightlessness at the Aréna Chamber Stage. [8]
Sources
- Národní divadlo moravskoslezské
- Ostravan.cz — 18 October 2026
- Seznam Zprávy — 16 October 2026
- Ostravan.cz — 9 October 2026
- Deník: Moravskoslezský kraj — 19 October 2026
- Ostravan.cz — 14 October 2026
- Ostravan.cz — 7 October 2026
- Ostravan.cz — 6 October 2026