The stage of the theatre is just several tens centimeters deeper than the auditorium; it covers square area c. 10x10 m. The stage portal, which is carried by a couple of pilasters with the volutes capitals, encloses space 6m wide and 4m high.

The depth of the playing area is over 9m at the deepest scenes; first side scenes are over 5 m off and the last couple 4 m off. The floor of the stage carried by the frame construction as well as ceiling is situated 95 cm over the auditorium and under the stage space. The entrance to the under the stage space is ensured by two trapdoors at the sides of the portal and gap beside the stairs next to the corridor. The candle bar in the middle with promptbox is situated on the stage abreast with the portal. The stage scene decorations were hanged up the ceiling's construction of the auditorium, which is 4,5 m over the floor. There are two staircases leading to outside “actor's” boxes at the sides of the portal.


In Litomyšl the original technical equipment has been preserved in its original condition, which allowed effects used in the baroque period to take place - especially the rapid change of the scenery.

The rails with the mobile frames for scenes in the space under the stage (jb) The lighting bar with nowadays electric installation (ps)

The equipment for the handing of side scenery, a moving lighting ramp, the equipment for the change of upper suffitas and probably also the so called “drizzle” - the equipment simulating the sound of rain - has been preserved. Last rest of the origin leather drapery and wire holder for a lamp has been preserved in the promptbox. Because of the size and function of the theatre, we don't have other typical elements of a baroque theatres - a trapdoor and trapeze (which have been preserved in Ceský Krumlov, for example).

The mobile frame for scenes in the rail under the stage (jb) The shaft over the stage for control of suffites changing (jb)

The side scenery stands on the stage in frames in sets of two and moves on wheels that are under the stage. When changing scenes one set of the side scenery is moved onto the stage. The suffitto is changed in a similar fashion, and a new backdrop is put in place. Changes of the side scenery and suffittos are carried out with the aid of a winch; the backdrop is pulled up and dropped manually. When there is teamwork between all those who operate the machinery (in Litomyšl four people were usually required for the simplest changes of scenery), a complete scene change can take place within the space of a few seconds.

The central shaft for the change of the side scenes (jb) The drum for the control of the central shaft under the stage (jb)

In the technical scripts for Litomyšl performances there is number of mentions about operating of the stage technique, about men, who operated particular part of the machinery and who dislocated the furniture for each changing of the scenes. These mentions have been very important fot the cognition of the technical aspects of the theatre operation in Litomyšl.

During the 2nd half of the 20th century some unfitting items have been placed on the stage - mainly the winch with winding nowadays dropscene (survival of the shooting at the 1980's) and drop curtain from the shooting in 1997.

The view to the construction of ceiling - hanging of suffites and the frames with the side scenes (jb) The view of the rig loft from the stairs towards 'actor's box' (jb, grant CORA-PHI)

The machinery for the changing of the scenery has been preserved in working form in only three theatres in Europe - in the castle in Ceský Krumlov and in Swedish castles of Drottingholm and Gripsholm (where it has been sometimes used as part of performances in the theatres). The machinery in Litomyšl was used in an amateur production at the beginning of the 20th century at last. One of the plans of the Association is the renovation of the stage machinery in order that it may be used in working form once more and may be used to its original extent.

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