Výstavba amfiteátra začala v roku 1951. Kľúčovou každoročnou udalosťou bol Filmový festival pracujúcich, ale postupne pribudli aj koncerty, operné, divadelné či tanečné inscenácie. V roku 1960 bol amfiteáter prestavaný na širokouhlé premietanie a v roku 1974 na panoramatické premietanie. Rekordnú dvadsaťtisícovú návštevnosť zažil v roku 1976 na filme Čeľuste. Výstavba obchvatu zmenšila kapacitu amfiteátra na polovicu, v 90. rokoch skončilo premietanie filmov a v roku 2008 bol definitívne uzavretý. Aktivity za záchranu vyvrcholili v roku 2014. Po znovuotvorení nadšenci postupne obnovili pôvodné premietacie stroje a pribudol aj digitálny projektor. Amfiteáter sa nachádza blízko centra, má výhľad na historické centrum či horskú panorámu, svojou kapacitou aj rozmerom plátna 32×15 m patrí široko-ďaleko k najväčším a schopnosťou premietať 35 mm, 70 mm aj digitálny formát pod holým nebom je jednoznačne európskym unikátom.

 

The construction of the Open Air Theatre began in 1951. The key annual event hosted there was the Workers’ Film Festival but, over time, opera, theatre or dance performances and concerts were also added. In 1960, the theatre was refurbished for films in the widescreen format and in 1974 for films in the panoramic format. It saw its record-breaking audience of 20.000 in 1976 for the screening of Jaws. A bypass road project later reduced its capacity by half, film screenings ceased in the 1990s and in 2008 the theatre closed down completely. The initiatives to save it culminated in 2014. Engaged amateurs restored its original projectors one by one after the theatre reopened and a digital projector was also installed. The Open Air Theatre is located near the town centre, with views of the historical centre and with mountains in the backdrop. Its seating capacity, together with the size of its 32x15m screen, make it one of the largest venues of its kind, while the possibility to screen in 35mm, 70mm and digital formats under the open sky make it unique at European level.

 

Autor textu: Juraj Havlík