The association was founded on 22 October 1975 at founding assembly in Zagreb and registered into Civil Association Register on 9 March 1976.
HDKKT is a member of International Association of Theatre Critics (AICT/IACT) and collaborates with The International Federation for Theatre Research (FITR/IFTR). It was founded with goal to develop and promote quality of the profession, cooperation with other similar associations and theatres in Croatia and abroad and to protect moral and material interests of its members. The associations structure comprises: Assembly, Executive Committee and President, Supervisory Committee and Court of Honour. Association first resides in Ilica 42 and later in Amruševa Street 19, Zagreb. It has about 50 active members and 15 retired and since 2013 dance critics are also admitted.
Association is funded by Ministry of Culture. Shortly after foundation, HDKKT launched Theatrology Library (Teatrologijska biblioteka) with Nikola Batušić as editor in chief and from1979 till 1992 thirty-three titles were published. In year 1994 Theatrology Library merged with Library Prolog (Biblioteka Prolog), former CKD, which was inherited by AGM (Zagreb). The new library was named Actor′s Booklet Prolog (Glumišna knjižnica Prolog) with editorial board: Nikola Batušić, Branko Hećimović and Igor Mrduljaš. From 1992 till 1997 library published eleven books in cooperation with AGM after which AGM completely took over the publishing activities.
In 80′s association introduced the Award for the Best Play of the Season through members′ survey.
Since 2012 HDKKT awards Demeter's Award for Lifetime Achievement. First one was awarded to one of the founders of HDKKT, president, historian and theatrologist Branko Hećimović 2012, second to secretary general, president, critic and theatrologist Igor Mrduljaš 2013 and the third to theatrologist, critic, educator and President of HDKKT Boris Senker. The Demeter's Award is awarded on the day of publication of first Demeter′s criticism about the first professional play in Croatian language Juran i Sofija by Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski in journal Danica ilirska on 13 July 1840 which is considered the beginning of the Croatian theatre criticism.
2012 Branko Hećimović
2013 Igor Mrduljaš
2014 Boris Senker
Sanja Nikčević - President, Lidija Zozoli - Secretary General (till 13 June 2014), Alen Biskupović Secretary General (since 13 June 2014 - ), Mira Muhoberac, Vlatko Perković, Boris B. Hrovat.
Boris Senker, Darko Gašparović, Martina Petranović
Nedjeljko Fabrio, Tomislav Kurelec and Mladen Martić
Petar Selem (1976-1980), Branko Hećimović (1980-1982), Marija Grgičević (1982-1984), Boris Senker (1984-1988), Nedjeljko Fabrio (1988-1991), Mani Gotovac (1991-1993), Antonija Bogner Šaban (1993-2001), Boris B. Hrovat (2001-2005), Igor Mrduljaš (2005-2010) and Sanja Nikčević (2010 - ).
Giga Gračan (1976-1978), Igor Mrduljaš, Branko Vukšić (1991-1993), Ana Lederer (1993-2001), Sanja Nikčević (2001-2010), Ljubica Anđelković (2010-2012), Lidija Zozoli (2012 till 13 June 2014), Alen Biskupović (since 13 June 2014 - )
1. Slavko Batušić Od Griča do Lutecije, Zagreb, 1979. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Petar Selem
2. Frano Čale Na mostu Thalija, Zagreb, 1979. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Petar Selem
3. Petar Selem Otvoreno kazalište, Zagreb, 1979. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Igor Mrduljaš (tajnik)
4. Branko Hećimović Dramaturški triptihon, Zagreb, 1979. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Petar Selem
5. Marko Fotez Kazališna hodočašća, Zagreb, 1981. ed. Nikola Batušuć, for publisher Branko Hećimović
6. Georgij Paro Iz prakse, Zagreb, 1981. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Branko Hećimović
7. Petar Selem Množenje mjesta, Zagreb, 1983., ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Marija Grgičević
8. Frano Čale Igre u Njarnjas-gradu, Zagreb, 1984. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Marija Grgičević
9. Igor Mrduljaš Dramski vodič. Od Vojnovića do Matišića, Zagreb, 1984. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Marija Grgičević
10. Nikola Batušić Skrovito kazalište, Zagreb, 1984. ed. Boris Senker, for publisher Marija Grgičević
11. Tihomil Maštrović Hrvatsko kazalište u Zadru, Zagreb, 1985. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
12. Boris Senker Kazališni čovjek Milan Begović, Zagreb, 1985. ed. Nikola Batušić,for publisher Igor Mrduljaš
13. Ivo Hergešić Zapisi o teatru, Zagreb, 1985. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
14. Milutin Cihlar Nehajev Izabrani kazališni spisi, Zagreb, 1986. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
15. Marko Marulić Drame, Zagreb, 1986. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
16. Mani Gotovac Dubrovačke mišolovke, Zagreb, 1986. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
17. Dalibor Foretić Borba sa stvarima. Krležin teatar 1972-1986., Zagreb, 1986. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
18. Ljudevit Galic Glumčeva ratna zapamćenja, Zagreb, 1987. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
19. Nedjeljko Fabrio Kazalištarije, Zagreb, 1987. ed. Nikola Batušić for publisher Boris Senker
20. Čedo Prica Stvarnost i iluzija, Zagreb, 1987. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
21. Boris Senker Begovićev scenski svijet, Zagreb, 1987. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
22. Marijan Matković Miroslav Krleža, život i djelo, Zagreb, 1988. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
23. Eliza Gerner Osvrnuh se sjetno, Zagreb, 1988., ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
24. Antonija Bogner Šaban Marionete osvajaju Zagreb, Zagreb, 1988. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Boris Senker
25. Igor Mrduljaš Dubravko Dujšin, poslovi i dani, Zagreb, 1988. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
26. Božidar Violić Lica i sjene, Zagreb, 1989. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
27. Mladen Englesfield Hrvatski prevoditelji Shakespearea, Zagreb, 1989. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
28. Lada Čaće-Feldman Brešanov teatar, Zagreb, 1989. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
29. Tomislav Durbešić Eto tako, Zagreb, 1989. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
30. Georgij Paro Made in USA, Zagreb, 1990. ed. Nikola Batušić
31. Nikola Vončina Kazalište, radio, televizija, Zagreb, 1990. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
32. Boris Senker Pogled u kazalište, Zagreb, 1990. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
33. Ivan Lozica Izvan teatra. Teatribilni oblici folklora u Hrvatskoj, Zagreb, 1990. ed. Nikola Batušić, for publisher Nedjeljko Fabrio
Glumišna knjižnica Prolog (in cooperation with AGM, Zagreb, only titles including HDKKT as co-publisher):
1. Antonija Bogner Šaban Tragom lutke i pričala, Zagreb, 1994.
2. Tahir Mujičić, Boris Senker Dvokrležje ili Dva fašnika, Zagreb, 1994.
3. Tomislav Bakarić Malleus maleficarum. Drame, Zagreb, 1994.
4. Igor Mrduljaš Ad hoc cabaret, Zagreb, 1995.
5. Nikola Vončina Stvaralaštvo svjetskog ugleda, Zagreb, 1995.
6. Ivan Kušan Svrha od slobode. Drame, Zagreb, 1995.
7. Branko Hećimović Razgovori s Pometom, Desdemonom, i poljskim Židovom, AGM, Zagreb, 1995.
8. Antonija Bogner Šaban Kazališni Osijek, Zagreb, 1997.
9. Igor Mrduljaš Dramski vodič. Od Vojnovića do Matišića, Zagreb, 1997. ed. Bože Ćović
10. Cecily Berry Glumac i glas, Zagreb, 1997.
11. Tomislav Bakarić Mrtva priroda s pticom, Zagreb, 1997.
