The Ioan Slavici Classical Theatre is Arad's main theatre, a Neo-Baroque building from 1874 that stands on the central square. It is named after Ioan Slavici, the Romanian writer born near Arad who became one of the founders of modern Romanian prose. The theatre facade, with its columns, statuary, and ornate pediment, is one of the most handsome in western Romania.
The theatre presents a full programme of drama, opera, and opera in both Romanian and Hungarian — a reflection of Arad's bicultural character. Even if you are not attending a performance, the exterior is worth seeing, and guided tours of the interior can sometimes be arranged through the box office. The building underwent careful restoration in the early 2000s.