: BERANEK

The construction of Beránek started in 1912 as an answer to the need for creating a large space hall that would host large public at social and cultural events. It was designed by ing. dr. Alois Čenský, a Prague based architect. Among other things, Čenský also designed the buildings of Vinohradské Theatre and Měšťanská Beseda in Pilsen. It took two years to build Beránek, up to 150 workers were involved in the process each day. The sculpture and stucco decorations of the building were made by academic sculptor Josef Pekárek, an experienced artist who had decorated many Prague architectonic sites. Beránek opened for public on April 26th, 1914. The opening was celebrated with a performance of Alois Jirásek’s play Jan Žižka, performed by amateur actors from Náchod and a special guest – Eduard Vojnar from the drama department of the National Theatre in Prague. An ancient curtain was hung to the stage: it had been designed in 1895 by Mikoláš Aleš and it displays the arrival of Forefather Čech (the alleged founder of Bohemia) to the mountain Říp.