400 YEARS OF THE THEATRE IN HVAR

Rightfully proud of the theatre in Hvar is the community that created it.  And, due to the theatre’s communal character and very early founding, it presents an exceptionally valuable achievement of the Hvar culture. It is important to understand how in the ambience of late Renaissance period that created the drama works by Hanibal Lucić, Marin Gazarović and Martin Benetović and the medieval religious drama by the aforementioned Gazarović, by Jure Žuvetić and by Sabo Mladinić as well as the religious drama assigned to Petar Hektorović, a real need for a representative place for scenic presentation and communal gathering was felt. Alongside with Dubrovnik, the Hvar circle of writers was most inclined to communicating with the public and the erection of the place for theatre presentations was very welcome in the moment of reconciliation between the noblemen and the folks, after the period of strong social tensions. Insofar it is necessary to point out the fact that the Hvar initiative for theatre founding was collective and communal while all other known European early examples (Vicenza, Sabionetta, Parma) were the fruit and the result of individual, private noblemen's pastime and amusement.
The dating of the theatre founding in year 1602 (“the second year of peace“) provoked discussions and disputes and the most important document on which it relied was a laudatory poem by Antun Matijašević Karamaneo from 1712. However, after the archival discovery by Nikša Petrić the existence and functioning of the theatre in the 17^th century was with certainty confirmed and the architecture of the arranged arsenal with formal back entrance and a representative inscription evidence that the building was not aimed just for practical reasons of accommodating and repairing ships but for the need of festive gathering and to the purpose of participating in theatre performance. Hence, after its founding date the theatre in Hvar is the third in the whole Europe and after its spirit and character it is unique and has preserved in its continuity until today the enthusiasm of amateurs and theatre lovers for scenic art accompanied by spectator's participation.
 
Tonko Maroević