National Theatre - Pecs, Hungary

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The theatre swings open its gates on 5 October 1895 for a lively celebration. This momentous occasion offers viewers a chance to watch Bánk bán by Ferenc Erkel, performed on the stage. Pécs had long been Hungary's countryside theatre hub since the mid-19th century; city dwellers would often be entertained by the acts of different theatrical companies. These theatre troupes could perform at popular venues such as the Elefántos Ház (the Elephant House) or the small Tettye district stage. As time passed, the audience began demanding a stone theatre in the heart of the city with a permanent cast; hence, the Theatre Committee of Pécs comes to life. Its first move is placing an ad for tenders in May 1890 calling for designs for the new theatre. The fortunate winners are Adolf Lang and Antal Steinhardt. For construction and implementation, acclaimed architects Felmer and Helmer step up. Meanwhile, a striking work by György Kiss sculptor of Zsolnay Porcelain Factory, which features the statue of the Genius atop the dome, captures people's imagination. The building remained open to visitors for 90 years but is shut on 5 June 1986 after suffering through many years of decay; fortunately, this is temporary since a comprehensive renovation gets underway that same year. Work finally completes by June 1991 with state-of-the-art technology, a dynamic revolving stage designed to showcase various scenes, and a deeper orchestra pit along with an advanced audiovisual system introduced, creating a completely transformed and refreshed venue where the audience could now comfortably watch shows while enjoying air conditioning in a stunning new space. Years go by until renovations come to a close in 2011 on the exterior as well as interior of this iconic building, thus paving way for a grand reopening of this architectural gem for enthusiastic art lovers to appreciate.