The Division for the History of the Croatian Theatre

Odsjek za povijest hrvatskoga kazališta HAZU

The Division of Theatrology, today the Division of the History of the Croatian Theatre, started operating on 1^st January 1966 as one of two divisions within the then re-named and re-formed Literature and Theatrology Institute. Prior to that, towards the end of 1965, the Academy Literature Institute was integrated with the archives and the museum of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, from which it overtook the non-listed theatrical material until 1950. The Division of the History of the Croatian Theatre engages in studying the national dramatic literature and all forms and professions related to the national theatre. Within the scientific research project entitled The Repertory of Croatian Theatres, led by Dr. Sc. Branko Hećimović, the book entitled The Repertory of Croatian Theatres was listed and published in three volumes, covering the periods 1840–1980 and 1981–1990; the fourth volume, covering the period 1991–2000, is being prepared. In the fifth volume, the list of performances held until 1840 was published. Since 2007, the work on the scientific project entitled The Time and Space of the European and the Croatian Theatrical Engagement of the Actor and Director Ivo Raić, led by Prof. Dr. Sc. Antonija Bogner-Šaban, has been underway.

The Division comprises the Museum theatrical collection, which has since 1988 been included into the registry of museum organizations, and which has diverse theatrical material in keeping. Material on theatrical authors and artists, as well as on Croatian theatres, festivals, companies and troupes is continually added to the collection. It is one of the largest collections of its kind in this part of Europe. The material is borrowed for exhibition purposes and used by scientists and experts. The Division also comprises a library.

The Division is further active in organizing exhibitions, in which it presents to the public the major protagonists of the Croatia theatrical life; the exhibitions include stage design and costume sketches, theatrical posters, theatre cast sheets, as well as other valuable theatrographic material. Accompanying catalogues are regularly published.