ND has announced a tender for the contractor for the general reconstruction of the New Stage

Prague - The National Theatre (ND) in Prague has announced a tender for the contractor for the general reconstruction of two buildings of the New Stage. The construction is expected to start with the beginning of the 2025/2026 theatre season and will last for two years. The investor for the reconstruction is the National Theatre, with the maximum anticipated investment costs being 2.3 billion crowns including VAT. This was reported today by ND spokesperson Tomáš Staněk.

"By reconstructing the New Stage, we will create a completely new theatre stage for the public in the center of Prague and will fulfill the dream of architect Karel Prager and scenographer Josef Svoboda after forty years, thanks to modern technologies. We will provide new spaces for social life and education," said ND general director Jan Burian.

Laterna magika is currently preparing premieres with the aim of being able to travel more during the closure of the New Stage around the world. "We are also preparing dates for it within the regular operation of the National Theatre, and part of the repertoire will be moved to the Stavovské Theatre," Burian stated.

The reconstruction will not change the external appearance of the building. It will also preserve the original architecturally valuable internal spaces, including the green serpentinite cladding, spiral staircase, and a generous light object by Pavel Hlava and Jaroslav Štursta, which will be renovated. This is in addition to the façade made of 4,000 glass "screens" by glass artist Stanislav Libenský.

By preserving the listed elements, the New Stage will offer visitors a variable arrangement of the stage and auditorium in a multifunctional hall with a capacity of up to 500 seats using modern theatrical technologies and variable acoustics after reconstruction. In the adjacent ND building, there will be an additional chamber theatre, rehearsal room, and new facilities for accompanying educational programs. A new café will also be created on the ground floor, connecting the theatre with Václav Havel Square. Both buildings will undergo significant technological modernization that will bring substantial energy savings and reduce operating costs as well as environmental impact.

The New Stage and Operating Building B were built as part of the completion of the ND complex during the reconstruction of the historic building from 1977 to 1983. They are an example of state representative architecture from the early 1980s that stands out for its use of exclusive materials and unique interiors. In 2021, the New Stage was declared a cultural monument.

Operating Building B served as a restaurant building until the early 1990s, then it was returned to the Roman Union of the Order of St. Ursula during restitution, which sold it to the company Themos. ND reclaimed the building in a public auction in 2018. Currently, the building is in a condition unsuitable for operation and after reconstruction, it will serve as a back office for the theatre and a space for public and educational events.