The theater in Plzeň has a facade in the color it had when it opened in 1902

Plzeň - Plzeň has completed the renovation of the façade and terrace of the main stage building of the J. K. Tyl Theatre after less than a year. The city invested 37 million crowns into the repairs of the Neo-Renaissance building and the rescue of the sculptures. The so-called Great Theatre in the center received the same façade it had at its grand opening in 1902. Additionally, it also got new lighting installed. This was reported by the spokesperson of the magistrate, Edita Vighová.
    "Work began last year during the theatre holidays. Restorers worked on the façades, sculptures, and decorative elements on the theatre's entrance façade and completely refurbished all the windows," Vighová described.
    At that time, a detailed restoration survey was also carried out, including static assessments of sculptures and decorative sculptural elements. Experts revealed that the technical condition of the sculptural decoration was entirely inadequate to critical. It posed a risk to traffic on the sidewalks and roads leading around the theatre. According to Deputy Mayor Petr Rund, the amount for restoration was increased by nearly two million crowns due to the critical condition of the sculptural decoration.
    The theatre building underwent a complete replacement of the sculptures, with copies of the dancing Putti and Lyra created for the tympanum of the western façade of the building. "Restorers worked on them since the autumn of 2009 in their studios. The new sculptures returned to the building in April and early May," said Vighová. In the future, the theatre will also see the completion of the renovation of the outdoor terraces and the park loop up to the White Corner.
    According to conservationists, the façade and decoration of the historical building, which is one of the landmarks of the center, suffered not only due to heavy traffic on Klatovská Avenue. The original appearance was not respected by recent construction modifications in the 1980s. The lower part of the façade was significantly darker than originally.
    The building of the Great Theatre was built in 1902 according to the design of architect Antonín Balšánek and is a national cultural monument. Its artistic decoration involved artists such as Ladislav Šaloun, František Hergesell, Stanislav Sucharda, Antonín Procházka, Antonín Rous, Vilém Amort, and others. The author of the reconstruction and extension project for the Great Theatre from 1981 to 1985 was architect Pavel Němeček.