Wilam Horzyca Theater in Torun - the theater building (then the Municipal Theater) was ceremonially opened on September 30, 1904. It replaced the theater building standing stilldyś at the Old Town Square. The new building was designed by a partnership of Viennese architects - F. Fellner and H. The project was designed by the architects of St. Helmer (creators of designs for theater buildings in Vienna, Augsburg, Chernivtsi, Cluj, Cieszyn, and the Odesa opera house, among others). Initially the auditorium could accommodate about 900 people, but over the course of a century it underwent many adjustments (1934, 1956, 2000). In 1941-1942 the facade, which was maintained in the spirit of eclecticism with elements of Art Nouveau, was also simplified (among other things, the figures of eagles crowning the pylons flanking the risalit of the main facade were removed, the detail was simplified). In 1995, a backstage building with a small stage was put into use. In front of the building are statues of the Muses - Melpomene and Terpsychora, unveiled in 1909, by Ernst Herter. In the first years of its existence, only German-language repertoire was performed on the theater's stage. Among the Polish-speaking population of Toruń at the time, it was even said that "self-respecting Poles do not go there." The first Polish theater season was inaugurated in November 1920 with the performance of Revenge by Aleksander Fredro, in the presence of Prime Minister Wincenty Witos. In 1945-1948 the theater company was managed by Wilam Horzyca. Today, the thriving stage is mainly associated with the International Theater Festival "Contact" held since 1991.
Michal - 11.08.2008
