Zagłębie Theatre

The construction of the „Winter Theatre” (with guest rooms) under the name „Saski Hotel” as well as the wooden „Summer Theatre”, which functioned from July 1897 to 1918, was part of Karol Steczkowski's architectural project. All these facilities were built by the private entrepreneur count Renard. The „Winter Theatre” was opened on the 6th of February 1897. That evening the play „The Revenge” by Aleksander Fredro was staged in the theatre, followed by „Madame Sans-Gene” by Victorien Sardou presented the next morning. Over the years the theatre has changed its name for several times, it was known as the „Polish Theatre” (1920), the „City Theatre" (1927) or „Zagłębie Theatre” (1955).

The theatre building has been reconstructed for several times and its present form is a result of modernization conducted in the years 1976-1978 and expansion of the building in 1992. Unfortunately none of the elements of the original interior decor or furnishing has survived until today. It needs to be emphasised that the theater was established in the 19th century before Sosnowiec was even granted the municipal rights. After Warsaw, Lvov, Cracow, Łódź and Poznań, Sosnowiec took the sixth place on the list of the cities with permanent seat of the theatre. In 2007 the Zagłębie Theatre celebrated its 110th anniversary.
The chronicles confirm that the theater was a workplace of such outstanding personalities, as Gabriela Zapolska, Wanda Siemaszkowa or Jan Świderski. In 1999 the Zagłębie Theatre was awarded the prestigious prize „Golden Masks” in the following categories: the performance of the year - "Kordian" by Juliusz Słowacki, the best direction - Zbigniew Zasadny, the best male roles - Wojciech Leśniak and Adam Kopciuszewski.