Stara Elektrarna - Old Power Station

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Set in a former power plant, the aptly named Stara Elektrarna can be translated as the Old Power Station. One of the most important contemporary performing arts venues in Ljubljana, it is run by a non-governmental organisation, the Bunker Institute. The place is primarily used for theatre and dance performances, yet also frequently utilised as a rehearsal and residency space. Various workshops (ranging from cultural management to dance techniques), lectures, round tables, concerts and multimedia events also take place here.

Numerous Slovene festivals have been (or still are) hosted by Stara Elektrarna (in part or in their entirety), among them the Mladi levi Festival, the City of Women International Festival of Contemporary Arts, the Gibanica (Moving Cake) Biennial of Slovenian Contemporary Dance Art, MENT Ljubljana, Animateka International Animated Film Festival, and also the Lutke International Puppet Festival, etc.

Stara Elektrarna is included in the Transferzala project, a combined season ticket for 5 independent Ljubljana performing arts venues: besides Stara Elektrarna, also Dance Theatre Ljubljana, Španski borci Culture Centre, Glej Theatre and Vodnik Homestead.

The venue's foyer features a small museum displaying various pieces of now-defunct equipment from the old power station.

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Venue

Type of venue: black-box theatre; main use: contemporary theatre, dance, music, multimedia events, rehearsal space, and workshops; seating: 300 seats total; performing area: 25m W x 15m D x 3.5m H to grid, floor suitable for dance; suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of masking and lighting; forestage: dance floor; lighting: details on request; sound: details on request; stage equipment: details on request; backstage: 2 dressing rooms accommodating 15 persons total; climate control: air-conditioned.

Though leased to Bunker Institute, the place is still owned by Elektro Ljubljana (Enterprise for Distribution of Electric Energy, Co.).