{{About||the theatre in [[Houston]], [[Texas]]|Arena Place|the Australian theatre company for young people|Arena Theatre Company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox theatre/wikidata}} '''Arena Theatre''' ({{langx|sk|Divadlo Aréna}}) is one of the oldest theatres in [[Bratislava]]. It was established on the right bank of the [[Danube]] in 1828 as an [[amphitheatre]]. The current building was built in 1899.<ref name="plus7">{{cite news |title=Jedno z najstarších divadiel čaká obnova: Pozrite sa, ako vyzeralo kedysi |url=https://plus7dni.pluska.sk/domov/jedno-najstarsich-divadiel-caka-obnova-pozrite-ako-vyzeralo-kedysi |access-date=2026-03-04 |work=Plus 7 dní |date=2020-07-23 |language=sk}}</ref>
From its establishment until the start of the [[Second World War]], many [[Hungary|Hungarian]], [[Austria]]n and [[Germany|German]] theatre companies performed there.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}} In the bombing of [[Starý most]] at the end of the war, the theatre building sustained damage and was subsequently closed to the public for more than 50 years.<ref name="bn94">{{cite news |title=Divadlo Aréna oslavuje 94 rokov. Aká je jeho história? |url=https://www.bratislavskenoviny.sk/aktuality/petrzalka/72429-divadlo-arena-oslavuje-94-rokov |access-date=2026-03-04 |work=bratislavskenoviny.sk |date=2022-07-10 |language=sk}}</ref>After the war, the theatre served as a storehouse for state-owned Czechoslovak Television.<ref name="plus7"/>
In the years after the [[Velvet Revolution]], the theatre was revived by a group of people around [[Mime artist|mime]] artist {{ill|Milan Sládek|sk}}, with an annual pantomime festival under the name of ''Festival Kaukliar'' starting there in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |title=Smutná správa: Zomrel svetoznámy mím Milan Sládek, bývalý riaditeľ divadla Aréna |url=https://www.bratislavskenoviny.sk/kultura/82805-smutna-sprava-zomrel-svetoznamy-mim-milan-sladek-byvaly-riaditel-divadla-arena |access-date=2026-03-04 |work=bratislavskenoviny.sk |agency=TASR |date=2024-12-04 |language=sk}}</ref>
In 2003, renowned Slovak actor [[Juraj Kukura]] became managing director and focus of the theatre shifted to drama. Kukura remained in charge until stepping down on 30 June 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Preložníková |first1=Nikoleta |title=Chaos v Divadle Aréna po Kukurovi: Najhorší možný scenár, dočasne ho nahradí táto žena |url=https://plus7dni.pluska.sk/aktualne/divadlo-arena-kukura-krenova-muselo-pristupit-ku-krizovym-krokom |access-date=2026-03-03 |work=Plus 7 dni |agency=TASR |publisher=News and Media Holding |date=2025-11-26 |language=sk}}</ref> The performance of ''[[The Goat or Who is Sylvia?]]''{{refn|group=nb|co-production with [[Prague]]-based [[The Drama Club (Prague)|The Drama Club]]}} was nominated for [[Dosky Awards]] for the 2003–04 theatre season. Juraj Kukura and [[Emília Vášáryová]] won the categories of best actor and best actress for their roles in the production.<ref>{{cite news |title=Najviac cien získala Arabská noc |url=https://www.sme.sk/nezaradene/c/najviac-cien-ziskala-arabska-noc |access-date=2026-03-03 |work=[[Sme]] |date=2004-09-25 |language=sk}}</ref> A year later, monodrama ''Tiso'' was voted the best performance. The play won a total of four awards including best actor for [[Marián Labuda]]'s portrayal of [[Jozef Tiso]].<ref>{{cite news |title=V Nitre odovzdali ocenenia divadelnej sezóny DOSKY 2005 |url=https://www.sme.sk/kultura/c/v-nitre-odovzdali-ocenenia-divadelnej-sezony-dosky-2005 |access-date=2026-03-04 |work=[[Sme]] |date=2005-09-23 |language=sk}}</ref>
Reconstruction of the building began in 2022: at a cost of around [[Euro|€]]7 million, the water tower and the wings were restored, a tower was added to the roof and a café was added to the site.<ref name="bn94"/>
==Notes== {{reflist|group=nb}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.divadloarena.sk/ Official site] {{in lang|sk}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Theatres in Bratislava]] [[Category:Culture in Bratislava]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Bratislava]] [[Category:Theatres completed in 1898]]