Regular theatre life in Teplice has its beginnings as far back as the middle of the 18^th century, specifically in the year 1751 when František Václav Clary-Aldringen established a home theatre for his family and guests.  The Clary-Aldringen family was also responsible for the first permanent theatre in Teplice, carried out according to a design by J. A. Giesel in the year 1787 through the addition to the western wing of their château. The hall had a capacity for almost 300 people and was additionally rented out to travelling troupes. A summer theatre was established in Teplice in the Trnovanská park in the year 1855 and at a later point on the summer grounds in the garden of the spa house 'U Věnce' ('Zum Rautenkranz'). The Teplice town council member Franz Stradal consequently submitted a proposal for a permanent public theatre in the year 1861. This plan was finally successfully implemented at a later point in the year 1871 when the town assembly passed a decision regarding the construction of a theatre building. A locale on the edge of the town park at today's U císařských Lázní street (at that time with the name Königsstraβe) was chosen for the building. The theatre was designed for approximately 800 people with the construction design prepared by the Dresden architect Bernhard Schreiber at the recommendation of Josef Turba and Josef Zítek. This Neo-Renaissance structure with rustication on the ground floor and a massive three-part columned loge on the first floor burned down, however, on the night of the 31^st of August/1^st of September 1919. The consequences of the fire were so serious that the town was forced to demolish the remains of the perimeter walls and build an entirely new theatre.