In order to have a look at the beginnings of the Warsaw National Theater, we need to go back to the Age of Enlightenment. On the 19th of November 1765, the premiere of Józef Bielawski’s Intruders took place in the today non-existing Opera building on Królewska street.

This first performance of a permanent, professional and public ensemble established by King Stanisław August Poniatowski was called „His Majesty’s National Actors”. The name “National Theatre” would be given later on. The establishment of the theatre took place in the context of several reforms initiated by the King in fields such as education and cultural life. 

From 1778-1779, the headquarters of the Theatre were moved to another building on Krasiński Square. It remained so for over half a century. Due to the necessity to carry out frequent renovations in it, the construction of a new theatre headquarters, designed by Antonio Corazzi, began in 1825. The new building was ready in 1833. 

After the defeat of the November Uprising, the Russian authorities were reluctant to carry on the functioning of the Theater under the banner of the National Theater. By order of the tsar, it was renamed the “Grand Theater”. It is important to keep in mind that in those times, theatres were the only places, except churches, where the Polish language was spoken in public. 

The second half of XIXth century Polish theatre was marked among others by the successes of the French repertoire, Józef Korzeniowski’s plays, Moniuszko’s triumphs, and also Słowacki’s dramas. In 1883, the Theatre fell victim to a fire and needed half a year to be rebuilt. 

In 1919, after Poland regained its independence, the building became a municipal theatre. Later that same year, the scene was once again consumed by fire. In 1924, the stage resumed its activity as the National Theater. Four years later, an intimate National Stage was opened, which was called the New Theater.

The middle of the XXth century was probably the most difficult period for the National Theatre as it burned not only in 1939 as a result of the German invasion but also in 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising. 

The last big fire of the Theatre took place in March 1985 while Poland was under Communist rule. The reconstruction took almost twelve years and was finally completed in 1996 in finally independent Poland. On the 19th of November 1997, the premiere of Stanisław Wyspiański’s November Night, directed by Jerzy Grzegorzewski, took place. It was the first performance staged at the rebuilt National Theater. 

In 2015, the National Theater blew its 250 candles. It remains the fourth oldest national stage in Europe and is widely considered as one of the most important stages in Poland.

Sébastien Meuwissen

Photo: Facebook Teatr Narodowy w Warszawie