Teatr Rozrywki in Chorzów

Teatr Rozrywki (the Entertainment Theatre) in Chorzów is a musical theatre with its own acting and vocal company, ballet and orchestra. It is housed in a building at the crossing of Katowicka and Konopnickiej streets in the Śródmieście of Chorzów, the former Königshütte, and has been operating since 1 January 1985.

A building that was a hotel, a German theatre and a cultural centre

The building was erected before the Second World War by the German entrepreneur of Jewish origin Franz Oppavsky. It housed the Graf Reden hotel, described as the most exclusive hotel in Chorzów.

In the interwar period the German Theatre operated here. After the war the building became the cultural centre of the Kościuszko Steelworks, where concerts and cultural events took place. In a side annexe, which earlier housed a large beer hall and had hosted chess tournaments and boxing matches, a theatre space was later set up.

From Music-Hall to theatre

The idea arose at the end of the 1970s as a Music-Hall. Preparations were interrupted in 1981 because of the political situation in Poland, and on 1 January 1985 the stage began operating as Teatr Rozrywki. A School of Dance and Singing was also established at the theatre, which trained performers in a 2.5-year cycle in the performing arts.

The theatre is a cultural institution of the Silesian Voivodeship Self-Government. The company numbers about a hundred artists, and the facilities include tailoring, locksmith and painting workshops, among others.

What is performed

The repertoire combines musicals, drama and concerts. It includes Polish productions such as "Betlejem polskie" by Lucjan Rydel, "Panna Tutli Putli" by Witkacy, "Apetyt na czereśnie" by Agnieszka Osiecka and "Jeszcze w zielone gramy" by Wojciech Młynarski, as well as international titles: "Cabaret", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Evita", "The Rocky Horror Show" and "Oliver".

Among the dramatic and musical productions are mentioned "Ślady" by Józef Szajna, "King Ubu" by Alfred Jarry, "Ptasiarz" after William Wharton and "Bal u Wolanda" based on "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov. The current repertoire changes, so it is best to check it on the theatre's website.

Nearby

The theatre lies not far from Chorzów's biggest city sights. About a kilometre away is the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park, and a little further the Silesian Park, in which the Silesian Planetarium is located. The Silesian Zoological Garden is about three kilometres away.

Practical information

• Address: Katowicka 62, Chorzów (entrance from Katowicka Street; the address Konopnickiej 1 is also given).
• Tickets are bought at the box office or through the sales system on the theatre's website; you can also choose a ticket as a gift.
• On the theatre premises there is a food outlet, Café Bocian.
• The theatre runs the "Theatre Without Barriers" programme; check accessibility for wheelchair users at the box office or with the organiser before your visit.