Ever since it was founded, this unassuming Prague theatre has played host to unconventional theatrical genres: cabarets, variety shows, operettas and musicals.
Founded in 1881, fifteen years after the fire that devastated the newly-built National Theatre on the banks of the Vltava, the Karlín Musical Theatre was initially furnished with tables, which were replaced in 1932 by a classical stage. At that time, its capacity was almost a thousand spectators, and it is now the second largest theatre in Prague. The flood of 2002 damaged the rich neo-baroque decorations, which have since been renovated.
The Karlín Musical Theatre company moved into the building in 1945. It mainly produced operettas and musicals, which quickly won over audiences and were also a great commercial success. The Theatre also hosted a large number of troupes, ensembles, circus artists and acts of all kinds. The musician, composer, actor and director Karel Hašler is undoubtedly the personality who has had the greatest impact on the Theatre.
