The Aréna Theater is historically the oldest theater building, which is still an active theater stage. Its tradition is one of the oldest theaters in Bratislava. It was founded in 1828 on the Petržalka bank of the Danube, near the historic public park. Initially, it served as a summer theater - an uncovered amphitheater, so it was named the Arena.
In 1898, a new building was built in its place, the appearance of which has remained almost unchanged from that time to the present day. From the establishment of the theater until the end of the Second World War, a number of Hungarian, Austrian and German theater companies performed at the Aréna Theater. One of them was the still popular Viennese theater Theater an der Wien , which has been performing here regularly since 1921.
The Aréna Theater is also connected with the artistic beginnings of a world-renowned theatrical personality - MAX REINHARDT (1873-1943) - a theater director and stage magician who played several seasons at the Aréna Theater and impressed the audience with many roles, especially as Franz Moor in Schiller's Bandits .
In 1994, the Slovak mime MILAN SLÁDEK founded the Foundation for the Restoration of the Aréna Theater, and the following year the partial restoration necessary for the operation of the theater began. The first premiere was Grand Pierot, and other productions soon followed: King Ubu, The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, The Trinity Opera. From 1996 to 2002, the Kaukliar International Pantomime Festival was held here regularly .