Conversion of the Palacký Building (today’s Masaryk Theatre)

This building on the town’s high street was erected for the gymnastic and cultural activities of the local Sokol club. Despite its origins in the Sokol movement, the multifunctional building was always intended to be used by other Jičín organisations.

Discussions regarding potential construction were initiated in 1879. A plan was drawn up in 1893 by Antonín Holeček, a member of the association and a Jičín building contractor. The building’s layout was dominated by two halls: the ground-floor central hall opposite the entrance was for gymnastic activities and organising all manner of celebrations, balls etc., while the second, smaller hall was located on the first floor. The finished building was opened to much fanfare in 1896.

Over the following decades the House of Palacký was rebuilt and extended several times. During its first overhaul (1911–1912) a gymnasium was added onto the original building (Antonín Holeček again drew the design), leaving the large hall purely for cultural purposes (including running a cinema). At this time, adapting the space to create a fully-fledged theatrical auditorium was also considered, although this was only realised in the mid-1920s, after which the building was rechristened the Masaryk Theatre. Čeněk Musil was entrusted to draw up the necessary plan in 1924. For several years he had already been contemplating how the transformation might best be achieved. He was, after all, an architect for whom set design was a life-long passion: in the 1920s and 30s he created stage sets for many productions of various theatrical groups in Jičín and guest theatre companies. The curtain for the new theatre and its stage was woven at the workshop of Artur Fischer.

Musil’s design is clearly dominated by the large, vaulted multifunctional hall, supported by four vaulting strips. The space was newly fitted with modern technical equipment, a circular cyclorama, and a revolving stage. The auditorium, separated from the stage by an orchestra pit, could accommodate a thousand people. The hall was bordered by broad corridors, and there was a spacious lobby in the art deco style. A similar lobby on the first floor led to a tiered balcony, adjacent to which ran galleries along the sides. 

(GA)