In Maribor, between 1918 and 1941, alongside with the National Theatre, numerous amateur stages existed: The People's Stage, The Workers' Stage, The Drama Society, The Drama Studio, The Young Generation Theatre, theatre groups making part of associations and schools, as well as others. Their main intention was to expand enlightenment amongst the popular strata, by Slovenian presentations. They played an important role, since they carried out, besides cultural tasks, a national defensive one, in an ethnically endangered region of the homeland.