In Slovenia, amateur cultural activities are very well represented. In the past they had particularly strong cohesive power – »combination of the pleasant and the useful«. For many, especially in rural areas, these activities were the only or most accessible option to spend their leisure time. In the 1930s, and even more after the Second World War, many amateur theatres were formed, some of which had been later transformed to professional theatres, while others were reinforced in infrastructure and members. The latter is represented by the Studenec Summer Theatre established in 1949. Since then, almost every summer, Miran Jarc Škocjan Cultural Society stages their own theatrical productions – the first performance was under the local hay-rack, nowadays they are held in the modern covered theatre with approximately thousand seats. The drama group was originally brought together by a few local enthusiasts; the initiators of cultural creativity were the Stražar brothers. The Studenec Summer Theatre nowadays combines local amateur and professional singers and actors. It stages its own productions, mostly Slovenian plays which tends to be light-hearted and comical with an aim to please the audience.
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