History

The building of the new City Theater, also known as Winter Theater and then as Grand Theater, was erected between 1884 and 1886.

The construction was undertaken at the initiative of the Lublin industrialists - brothers Adolf and Juliusz Frick, who had bought the area of the former Capuchin gardens at the then Namiestnikowska Street. A competition for the architectural design of the theater building was announced.  Out of five works, the proposal of Karol Kozłowski - an architect from Warsaw, whose work was representative of the then eclecticism, was selected. The construction was financed mainly from contributions donated by the public. The erected building was characterized by large cubic capacity and impressive, neo-Renaissance architectural design. Even today, it is one of the most representative buildings in Lublin. Over the years, the building has undergone several significant refurbishments, including a refurbishment carried completed in 1891-1898. For many years, it was owned by the Civil Partnership Association, which leased the building to the Society of Friends of the Polish Theater. From 1921, it was looked after by the City Board.

Renovation works were carried out then. In 1944, the historic first staging of Stanisław Wyspiański's Wedding took place there. In 1949, the theater was named as the Juliusz Osterwa Theatre. In 1967, the entire building was thoroughly renovated. During the renovation carried out in 2003, a part of the ceilings and floors were replaced, as well as the window and door woodwork. The façade was also restored then.  The other elevations were renovated in 2006. 

In the corner of the building, there was a coffee roasting shop of Feliks Widelski, which was popular in the whole city. Its traditions are continued today by the Theatre café. In the side wing of the building facing Kapucyńska Street, there was a ballroom, and then the seat of the Music Society and the Music School. Concerts of the Lublin Philharmonic were held there for many years.

Description

The building is situated in the central part of the city, at the intersection of Peowiaków Street, Narutowicza Street and Kapucyńska Street, vis--vis the post-Bridgettines Church. Its façade faces north towards Narutowicza Street (former Namiestnikowska Street).

The theatre is built of (plastered) bricks in an eclectic style with a predominance of neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque elements.

The three-section building is integrated with the street layout. From the north, it is adjoined by annexes, which were added later. It is partly cellared and covered with gable roofs. All sections of the building have the same height, but differ with the number of storeys (2, 4 or 5), depending on their functions. 

The two-storey, five-axial façade is set on a plinth. It has pseudo-avant-corpses on the sides and rusticated masonry finishes. In the central part of the ground floor, there are three rectangular door openings in a two-section arcaded surround with a fanlight clearly delineated by a cornice. The lower part is enclosed by a pair of pilasters and the upper part by a semi-circular archivolt with a corbel-like keystone. In the arch areas, there is a composition of floral wreaths and twisting ribbons. The window frames in the pseudo-avant-corpses follow a similar pattern. The middle door is flanked with stone (commemorative) plaques in the form of aediculas. Storeys are separated by an entablature with a frieze filled with triglyphs, guttae (teardrops) and serrations. In the central axes on the first floor, high multi-section windows were inserted. The windows are enclosed by a semi-circular arch with a keystone and with laurel wreaths in the arch areas, flanked by Corinthian pilasters. In the avant-corps, there are porte-fenêtre windows flanked by Ionic half-columns, which support the triangular gable. The porte-fenêtre windows are framed by Corinthian pilasters and preceded by a balcony with a baluster railing, resting on large supports created by the overhanging section of the cordon cornice, sustained by elongated volutes with acanthus leaves.

The whole is topped by a smooth frieze with the date “1886” (on the central axis) and a protruding crowning cornice supported by modillions. Between the modillions, there are rosettes. Pseudo-avant-corpses are emphasized by parapet walls with a low aedicula surmounted by volutes, on the axis of which there is a blind oculus and a knob at the top of the segmented pediment. On the sides, there are two vases placed on pedestals.  

Side elevations: (western) 11-axial, five-storey and (east) 4-axial, four-storey with modest architectural decorations. The rear elevations are smooth, with no details.

Inside, there is a hall (in the central front part) with stairs leading to the auditorium and the stage. On the upper storeys, there are balconies (in the north-west part). Other parts of the building accommodate offices and theater facilities. 

Inside (hall, auditorium), the most noteworthy features include stucco work and richly decorated balconies and spectator boxes.

In general, the building can be viewed from outside. The interiors are accessible to the general public during the opening hours of the Theatre (ticket office is open from Tuesday to Saturday between noon and 7 p.m., Sunday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.)

compiled by Anna Sikora-Terlecka, National Institute of Cultural Heritage, Branch Office in Lublin,25 July 2017

Bibliography

• Kawałko P., Nestorowicz Z., Lublin. Przewodnik, Lublin 2012, pp. 271-272.
• Kruk S., Teatr Miejski w Lublinie 1918-1939, Lublin 1997.
• Kruk S., Życie teatralne w Lublinie. 1782-1918, Lublin 1982.
• Nowak B., Lublin. Przewodnik, Lublin 2000, pp. 254-255.
• Historical and urban study for purposes of a detailed spatial development plan for the Centre of Lublin, collective work edited by Alicja Kurzątkowska, vol. I-V, Lublin 1969, PDNH PP PKZ Lublin, typescript in the archives. Voivodeship Office for the Protection of Historic Monuments in Lublin, pp. 457-458
• Żywicki J., Urzędnicy: architekci, budowniczowie, inżynierowie cywilni …, Lublin 2010, pp. 326-327