Development of culture presents a indispensable part of the development of a certain area, city and its inhabitants and takes irreplaceable place in its history and the development of its identity, as well in the develoment of the identity of its citizents. Relation of the city towards its cultural identity is being manifested through the cultural memory, which shows how a city relates to its past, present and its future. This paper shows how have certain factors affected the creation and development of the cultural and thereby theatrical life of Šibenik, determining its position and its significance on a Croatian and international cultural scene. Sociopolitical circumstances in Šibenik and Croatia through the centuries have considerably dictated the development opportunities of the theatrical life in the city itself. Theatrical activities of the Sisters of St. Benedict with their 1614 performance of the play Tri kralja (Three Kings) represent a certain avangarde, with the fact of being the first all-female play in Europe of that time. The blossom of the theatrical life in Šibenik happened during post-Revival era, in 1870 with the opening of a new theater building. Particular contribution to development of city's cultural, and therefore theatrical life, was done by the members of the Mazzoleni family, who did it regradless of their social and national background. Even though the opening of a new theater positioned Šibenik on a Croatian and European cultural map, the turbulent times that followed made its full affirmation as a city of culture impossible. In the era following World War II, the cultural life achieved its rise through the foundation of the International Children's Festival in 1958. The city, together with its citizens, started to identify itself with the festival, which in turn helped the city being recognizable outside the borders of the Croatia, of which is given a special review in this paper.