The theatre forms the central part of one of many mental asylum   pavilions, distributed in a large park.

The theatre building is a part of the Mental Asylum Bohnice complex  consisting of detached pavilions. The extensive complex was coming into existence since 1905 due to the decision of Zemský výbor (Regional committee) at that time. The first stage of its  construction was successfully finished in 1914.   Another stage was delayed by the First World War. The construction of a theatre, church and  so called sanatorium for paying patients proceeded only with   great difficulty. The grounds were finished in essence not until twenty years after the elaboration of the general design in 1924.

The design of the  institutional theatre was worked out by builder Josef Dvořák ( he acquired a building licence in 1908). Václav Roštlapil is sometimes stated as the  author of the entire Bohnice complex, however, in the grounds he was demonstrably building  only the main administrative building,   church and detached villas with doctors’ flats in the south part; his contribution on the other building is not possible to determine today. Some unsigned theatre designs from 1910 has been preserved and they are identical with the implementation designs from 1924, which are undersigned by Dvořák.

Theatre construction  was being prolonged against the other buildings probably due to financial reasons. The building was finished perhaps already in 1926, but theatre operation was ceremonially launched  not until  June of 1932. Productions and various social events took place here from the beginnings for paying patients, later on a troupe consisting of patients and personnel was performing here as a component of  therapy. The Behind the Fence Theatre has been functioning in the building since 1991 as a cultural, social and educational centre of the Bohnice Mental Asylum not only for the asylum patients but for the wide public as well.

Only partial repairs have occurred in the building throughout its entire existence.  Partial reconstruction in 1991 affected especially the social facilities for spectators. Only ordinary repairs as painting renovation and so on continued in the following years.  

Ministry of Culture proclaimed the entire complex including all the buildings and plots – therefore including the theatre – as a culture monument with registration N. 40605/1-1570 in 2006.

Present state

The theatre stands in the southwest corner of the medical institution premises, not far away from the former Bohnice chateau and the church of St. Petr and Paul. The building forms the central, dominant part of a larger building; the area of a winter garden connects it with two smaller pavilions of the asylum on its side. The present state of the building does not essentially differ from the original one.

The symmetrical building layout in the shape of the inverted  “T” is composed of an elongated front wing, to which the actual theatre building is attached on the north in the right angle. Another areas, dedicated to the public, communication and operational rooms, social facilities, are gathered around the central theatre hall.  

The volumes of symmetrical south elevation peak towards to the top central part. The main, three bay entrance is protruded from it with a projecting unsheltered staircase. A flat roof above the entrance serves as a balcony that is embellished by a sandstone sculpture group by unknown author in the middle of a stone balustrade. The sculpture group represents a sitting man, who holds a lyre in the right hand and hugs by the other hand  and bends down to the female on his left. Narrow two storey corner bays are projected on the sides in front of the storey volume of the main building above the  balcony with three windows and a balustrade.  Another short storey sectors along the sides of the central part of the building are connected to the ground floor wings of the winter gardens,  joined onto the side pavilions.

The building has a flat facade, articulated by   large windows flats,  with  a pediment in the central part and with infill between the corner bay windows. A distinct horizontal element of all the facades is composed of cornices, attics and their plating decorated by diamond rustication .

From the view from the north, the central five bay three storey part is complemented by a five bay two storey side wings with glasshouses (a projecting basement is here as an individual storey due to  sloping terrain on this side). The basement of the rear part facades is articulated by   banded rustication,  other parts of the facade are – with the  exception of a simple pediment in the central part- without more distinct architectural elements. High thermal windows of the main hall are a predominant constituent of side elevations.  Considerably spatially articulated side facades are complemented by the entrances into the theatre hall and outdoor staircase on the both the sides of the main block.

The foyer is accessed through glass doors. Its front part with a cloakroom and cash desk on the sides is separated from the upper part, where an entrance into the main hall, side corridors into the greenhouse ( there is a theatre club in the left one) and a staircase leading to the storey and onto balcony are located. The foyer and staircase are panelled by reddish brown glossy marble, the foyer and corridors floors are tiled by tiny mosaics.

The main hall of an oblong layout penetrates two storeys. The auditorium floor is without elevation and fixed seats to be possible to use the hall not only for theatre productions but for other culture and social events as well.

A balcony flanks the hall from three sides in the level of the storey. The walls under the balcony are articulated by simple pilasters with Doric capitals, on which the original brass  lighting is mounted. The balcony ceiling is articulated by shaped frames; balcony parapet is accented by similar, but smaller stucco panels. Above the main entrance to the hall, a symbol of theatre Muse hangs on it – stylized moulded stucco harp between linden branch and abstract geometric bands. The hall walls are broken by thermal windows under simple panache in large cavetto, trimming the flat auditorium ceiling in the width of the balconies. The ceiling is covered by a decorative stucco ornamentation: the central oblong field with bevelled corners is surrounded by dentil band with floral motifs and arrows. The shape of round grid of the ventilation system in the middle of the ceiling resembles the blossom with petals.

The proscenium arch with a lintel in the shape of a depressed arch is trimmed by a stucco decoration. The hall does not have an orchestra pit. The stage with proscenium occupies the north part of the block; behind it and along the circumference of the hall, operational rooms, dressing rooms, offices and so on are located.

The hall has a capacity of 196 seats in row arrangement with a possibility of 50 additional seats and 110 seats by a table arrangement. Another 50 seats ( in  table arrangement 20 seats) is available on the balcony. The original stucco decoration on the ceilings and wall, brass lights and terrazzo  floors have been preserved in all the public areas ( foyer, corridors in the storey, staircase).  Of interest are the ground floor glasshouses (winter gardens) along the sides of the theatre interconnecting  with neighbouring medical pavilions. Glasshouses have an original glass folding roof  (presently non functioning and covered by  sheet) and glassed walls with a walled parapet on the south side.

Sources and literature:  

– Archiv Psychiatrické léčebny v Bohnicích

– Dokumentace Národního památkového ústavu – územního odborného pracoviště v hlavním městě Praze

– Josef Tichý, Historie bohnické psychiatrie v letech 1903–2005, Praha 2006

Tags: Art Nouveau, Contemporary era, detached building, theatre hall

Author: Hedvika Křížová

Translator: Jan Purkert