Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre, Zvolen

Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre in Zvolen was originally founded in 1949 as part of the Central Slovak Theatre in Banská Bystrica, which initially comprised both drama and music theatre/opera ensembles. The company was subsequently renamed as the Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre. In 1959 the music theatre/opera ensemble was separated from the drama ensemble and set up as a separate branch in Banská Bystrica, where in 1993 it became today's State Opera in Banská Bystrica. In 1997 the State Opera in Banská Bystrica was reunited with the Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre in Zvolen during a brief attempt to re-establish the Central Slovak Theatre company, but in 1999 both companies once more became independent of each other.

Today Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre is a professional drama company with a wide repertoire of international and domestic, classic and contemporary theatre, including children’s fairy tales and performances for students. Each month the theatre tours several shows. It also organises various other activities including open door days or foyer exhibitions.

Since 1994 the Theatre has been housed in a newly-reconstructed theatre venue in the town centre - for technical details see Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre in Zvolen.

The Theatre co-organises (together with State Opera in Banská Bystrica) the oldest open-air professional theatre and opera festival in Slovakia named Zvolen Castle Plays, which takes place annually at Zvolen Castle in the centre of the town.

The Theatre’s repertoire includes world classics such as William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, J B P Molière’s The Miser and Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, plus a selection of Slovak classics such as I Stodola’s drama Tea at Mr Senator's and A Prochádzka’s comedy Never with Your Daughter!, and fairy tales such as S Lichý’s Aladdin's Magic Lamp and J Jílek’s Cinderella and The Prince.