Teatr Bagatela imienia Tadeusza Boya-Żeleńskiego Kraków

Teatr Bagatela imienia Tadeusza Boya-Żeleńskiego is one of the most renowned stages in Kraków, located at 6 Karmelicka Street in the very heart of the city. Its history dates back to 1918, when Marian Dąbrowski, later the founder of the press concern Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny, initiated the creation of the theatre. The building was designed by architect Janusz Zarzecki, who drew inspiration from Parisian architecture, while the interiors were decorated by painter Henryk Uziembło. The theatre's name was coined by Tadeusz Żeleński-Boy, who joked that a good name would be 'Bagatela'. The edifice was compared to the Parisian Casino de Paris and Folies-Bergère, and its Art Nouveau auditorium could seat 700 spectators. The first premiere was Gabriela Zapolska's comedy 'Kobieta bez skazy' (The Unblemished Woman), which caused a scandal and enjoyed tremendous success. In 1928, a fire destroyed the interior, but the theatre was rebuilt, and in 1938 it was modernized and renamed 'Scala'. After the war, various stages operated here, and in 1970 the name Bagatela was restored, with the theatre being dedicated to Boy-Żeleński in 1972. Today, the theatre has three stages: the main one in the building on Karmelicka Street, a smaller one on Sarego Street, and the youngest at the foot of Kościuszko Mound. The main stage hosts comedies and entertainment performances for a wide audience, while the smaller stages are used for artistic experiments. The theatre also features set-building workshops and rehearsal rooms, and its offer is aimed at adults, groups, and school trips. It is a place that combines a rich history with a modern repertoire, making it an important point on Kraków's cultural map.