Bratislava (former Prešporok) was as the temporary capital of the Kingdom of Hungary since the early 17th century the most important centre of theatre in our country. In the last third of the 18th century was built the first stone theatre in Bratislava, or in Upper Hungary - Municipal Theatre in Bratislava, somewhere close to the place of today´s historical building of the Slovak National Theatre. With the funds of Count Juraj Csáky de Körösszegh et Adorján IV it was possible to build the building. The theatre was officially opened to the public in September 1776. In the beginning of the 1880ies the city officials started to consider the reconstruction of the theatre and it was pulled down due to unsatisfactory technical condition in the autumn of 1884. The new theatre was designed by an architectural studio based in Vienna (Atelier Fellner & Helmer) run by reputable theatre designers Ferdinand Fellner Jr. and Hermann Gottlieb Helmer, which was built on the site of the older building. It was officially opened in September 1886.
