# Arena Theatre

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For the theatre in [Houston](/source/Houston), [Texas](/source/Texas), see [Arena Place](/source/Arena_Place). For the Australian theatre company for young people, see [Arena Theatre Company](/source/Arena_Theatre_Company).

Arena Theatre Established 1889 Located at Bratislava Coordinates 48°08′09″N 17°06′52″E / 48.13583°N 17.11444°E / 48.13583; 17.11444 Heritage designation cultural heritage of Slovakia Occupant Divadlo Aréna Country Slovakia Website www.divarena.sk [edit on Wikidata]

**Arena Theatre** ([Slovak](/source/Slovak_language): *Divadlo Aréna*) is one of the oldest theatres in [Bratislava](/source/Bratislava). It was established on the right bank of the [Danube](/source/Danube) in 1828 as an [amphitheatre](/source/Amphitheatre). The current building was built in 1899.[1]

From its establishment until the start of the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), many [Hungarian](/source/Hungary), [Austrian](/source/Austria) and [German](/source/Germany) theatre companies performed there.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In the bombing of [Starý most](/source/Star%C3%BD_most) at the end of the war, the theatre building sustained damage and was subsequently closed to the public for more than 50 years.[2]After the war, the theatre served as a storehouse for state-owned Czechoslovak Television.[1]

In the years after the [Velvet Revolution](/source/Velvet_Revolution), the theatre was revived by a group of people around [mime](/source/Mime_artist) artist [Milan Sládek](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Milan_Sl%C3%A1dek&action=edit&redlink=1) [[sk](https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Sl%C3%A1dek)], with an annual pantomime festival under the name of *Festival Kaukliar* starting there in 1996.[3]

In 2003, renowned Slovak actor [Juraj Kukura](/source/Juraj_Kukura) became managing director and focus of the theatre shifted to drama. Kukura remained in charge until stepping down on 30 June 2025.[4] The performance of *[The Goat or Who is Sylvia?](/source/The_Goat_or_Who_is_Sylvia%3F)*[nb 1] was nominated for [Dosky Awards](/source/Dosky_Awards) for the 2003–04 theatre season. Juraj Kukura and [Emília Vášáryová](/source/Em%C3%ADlia_V%C3%A1%C5%A1%C3%A1ryov%C3%A1) won the categories of best actor and best actress for their roles in the production.[5] A year later, monodrama *Tiso* was voted the best performance. The play won a total of four awards including best actor for [Marián Labuda](/source/Mari%C3%A1n_Labuda)'s portrayal of [Jozef Tiso](/source/Jozef_Tiso).[6]

Reconstruction of the building began in 2022: at a cost of around [€](/source/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.[2]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** co-production with [Prague](/source/Prague)-based [The Drama Club](/source/The_Drama_Club_(Prague))

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-plus7_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-plus7_1-1) ["Jedno z najstarších divadiel čaká obnova: Pozrite sa, ako vyzeralo kedysi"](https://plus7dni.pluska.sk/domov/jedno-najstarsich-divadiel-caka-obnova-pozrite-ako-vyzeralo-kedysi). *Plus 7 dní* (in Slovak). 23 July 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bn94_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bn94_2-1) ["Divadlo Aréna oslavuje 94 rokov. Aká je jeho história?"](https://www.bratislavskenoviny.sk/aktuality/petrzalka/72429-divadlo-arena-oslavuje-94-rokov). *bratislavskenoviny.sk* (in Slovak). 10 July 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Smutná správa: Zomrel svetoznámy mím Milan Sládek, bývalý riaditeľ divadla Aréna"](https://www.bratislavskenoviny.sk/kultura/82805-smutna-sprava-zomrel-svetoznamy-mim-milan-sladek-byvaly-riaditel-divadla-arena). *bratislavskenoviny.sk* (in Slovak). TASR. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Preložníková, Nikoleta (26 November 2025). ["Chaos v Divadle Aréna po Kukurovi: Najhorší možný scenár, dočasne ho nahradí táto žena"](https://plus7dni.pluska.sk/aktualne/divadlo-arena-kukura-krenova-muselo-pristupit-ku-krizovym-krokom). *Plus 7 dni* (in Slovak). News and Media Holding. TASR. Retrieved 3 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Najviac cien získala Arabská noc"](https://www.sme.sk/nezaradene/c/najviac-cien-ziskala-arabska-noc). *[Sme](/source/Sme)* (in Slovak). 25 September 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["V Nitre odovzdali ocenenia divadelnej sezóny DOSKY 2005"](https://www.sme.sk/kultura/c/v-nitre-odovzdali-ocenenia-divadelnej-sezony-dosky-2005). *[Sme](/source/Sme)* (in Slovak). 23 September 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2026.

## External links

- [Official site](http://www.divadloarena.sk/) (in Slovak)

Authority control databases International VIAF National Czech Republic Geographic Structurae EUTA theatre

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arena Theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_Theatre) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_Theatre?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.