History

The building was erected in 1873 as a catering and entertainment venue. The first play was staged there in 1886. At that time, a summer theatre in form of a wooden, openwork structure was erected. Later, it was demolished and transferred to Lubniewice, where it suffered total destruction. From 1917 the theatre was managed by the Municipal Theatre Society. In 1923 the interiors were renovated according to the plans of architect Meyer. The arrangement of rooms and decorations of the interior were modified. A painter Robert Sandforth created the paintings in the main room. It was then that a representational portico was built in front of the main entrance. The first performance after the end of World War II was held in the Autumn of 1945. An official inauguration of the theatre, then of Józef Korzeniowski, took place in January 1946. In the next year a team of actors and a director were replaced and the theatre obtained a new patron - Juliusz Osterwa.   

Description

The theatre building is situated in Teatralna Street, running close to the Warta river embankment. A Neo-Classicist building comprises two adjacent, one-storey parts, made of brick, set on a rectangular floor plan, with their bodies partitioned by annexes and covered with gable roofs. The plastered façades are accentuated with architectural detail in the form of cornices, dentil frieze, window surrounds, panels and rosettes. On the façade axis there is a main entrance accentuated by a columned portico crowned with a triangular tympanum, preceded by wide stairs. Inside, paintings on the walls and ceiling of the auditorium, originating from the 1920s have survived. A brick summer theatre located at the back of the main building has also remained to date. 

The heritage site is accessible to the general public. It can be visited upon prior telephone arrangement.

compiled by Marta Kłaczkowska, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Zielona Góra. 27.12.2017

Bibliography

• Garbacz K., Przewodnik po zabytkach województwa lubuskiego, vol. 3, Zielona Góra 2013, p. 32;
• Kowalski S., Zabytki architektury województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 2010, p. 109;
• Zabytki północnej części województwa lubuskiego, Lewczuk J., Skaziński B. (eds.), Gorzów Wlkp.-Zielona Góra 2004, pp. 24-25;
• http://gorzow.wyborcza.pl/gorzow/1,36844,19993855,piekne-sceny-z-dlugiego-zycia-teatru.html