Basic information

In 1883, when Nitra had a population of about nine thousands, the first theatre was built here. The theatre had 360 seats and oil lamps illuminated the nine meters wide stage.

The theatre building was situated at the same place as the present one and served Nitra population well until a bomb during the World War II. Destroyed it. Destruction of the theatre building did not mean an end to the professional theatre activities in Nitra. One dual-purpose building, the Narodny dom (National House) cum gymnasium TJ Sokol (gymnastic organization), was adopted for serving theatre activities. Rebuilding of the Narodny dom was completed in 1949 and then used for staging theatre productions for forty-three years.

In 1992 the Andrej Bagar Theatre moved from its old place into one of the biggest and most modern theatre buildings in Slovakia. The new building tho stages – 600 seats Big Hall and 150 variable seats arrangement in the Studio – are prerequisite for an uninterrupted working of this multi-functional theatre facility. It provides ideal condition for creation, presentation and perception of modern works.

Andrej Bagar Theatre dramaturgy takes in to accounts the different needs of domestic and foreign theatre audience. Variety of themes and genres is interleaved with a high quality presentations and attractive stage productions. Each single work is reflection of directors originality, his unmistakable characteristics, aesthetic style, poetics and individual interpretation of the work.

The repertoire is not overlooking either the most important classical plays of the modern twenty century works. The theatre regularly presents plays for children and the young generation. Theatre regards as its natural duty the presentation of Slovak playwrights, both present and classical ones.

Lately, grand musical projects gained a wide popularity. Strong response from the audience together with the positive domestic and foreign reviews does confirm the high professional quality of performances, which are comparable with any other theatre production in Europe. After the famous periods of internal directors (P. Haspra, K. Spisak and J. Bednarik) the theatre is now seeking new and specific artistic expression. Co-operation with guest personalities from Slovakia and from abroad is one option how to avoid creative paralysis. Permanent artistic confrontation and creative dialog are aiding ensemble development and progress. This, in turn, increases spectators enjoyment of seeing top quality theatre productions.

The Andrej Bagar Theatre building with its extraordinary interior is an ideal place for organizing many cultural and social activities like orchestral and dance performances shows, TV recordings, live TV entertainment, etc. The Theatre Restaurant and Café with their wide variety of meals and drinks are well suited for many types of private and public functions.

Regional Theatre Nitra was established by the end of 1949. In 1979, to commemorate Andrej Bagar – important Slovak actor, director, drama teacher and organizer of Slovak theatre activities – the theatre was renamed to the Andrej Bagar Theatre.

During it sixty years of existence, the company progressed from a touring regional theatre to an established and widely accepted company that is an important part of Slovak drama theatre scene. The theatre, by producing performances that are entertaining and attractive in their form, gained audience at home and abroad. These productions are intellectually and aesthetically demanding; creative search for new theatrical language is encouraged. The company often experimented, gave opportunity to young and ambition artists, took healthy risk and then surprised with its artistic achievements.

Great theatre festivities for visitors and theatre professionals are the theatre festivals attended by a wide domestic and foreign audience. Since 1973, in the last week in May, there is a meeting of Slovak professional drama theatres called “Májová Divadelná Nitra” (Theatrical Nitra in May). The international Theatre Festival DIVADELNÁ NITRA takes place annually in the last week of September. In it the most interesting European companies take part. Andrej Bagar Theatre is not only one of the main organizers of the international Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra but also regularly participates with a performance.  For the future, the theatre wants to follow the most recent and the most progressive trends in the 20^th century European theatre. It wants, with its own unmistakable contribution, not only to become a part of this trend, but also to enrich it. To built on tis past and create good perspective for its new future. Rediscovering basic ethical and esthetical postulates for the benefit of the spectators and the theatre itself.