There is currently no clear agreement on a name for the theater in Plzeň

Pilsen - The naming of the new Pilsen theater after the former president Václav Havel does not have unified support among city councilors. In today's first round of discussions among the heads of the representative clubs, no agreement could be reached on the name for the new theater. CTK was informed by Mayor Martin Baxa (ODS), who initiated the talks. Another meeting regarding the theater's name will take place after the New Year, so a decision can be made as soon as possible.
    "There is no strong unified will to name the theater after Václav Havel, but on the contrary, I have not detected any disagreement from any club regarding a neutral name for the new theater building, whether it be New Theater or New Scene," said Baxa, who has long advocated for naming it after the first post-November president. He previously pointed out that if there were no clear agreement on this proposal, he would suggest a neutral name for the new theater.
    The neutral designation New Scene is supported by, for example, the Social Democrats. "We are not in favor of the theater being named after any personality, whether it's Václav Havel, Miroslav Horníček, or for example Vendelín Budil," said Martin Zrzavecký, head of the councilors' club for ČSSD, to CTK. According to him, Pilsen already has the Great Theater, so New Scene would be appropriate.
    "A neutral name is legitimate, possible, and personally I think it is non-conflicting as well. However, today we pointed out that the key issue is the discussion on how to complete the theater," said Michal Vozobule from TOP 09 to CTK. He noted that it is still undecided whether Pilsen will cover the additional costs incurred during construction. "Only then can we discuss the name," he added.
    In Pilsen, a petition is spreading to name the theater after native Miroslav Horníček. The initiators point out that Horníček began his career in the Pilsen municipal theater and proudly identified with Pilsen throughout his life. "This Pilsen native was already honored by having a municipal theater named after him during his lifetime, but this theater, unfortunately, as you well know, was demolished along with the entire Inwest Cultural House of which it was a part," they stated in a letter. The petition has so far been signed by over 7,300 people.
    The theater building is being constructed between Palackého náměstí and Jízdecká Street. Its opening is planned for September 2014, but the schedule may be jeopardized by discussions surrounding an increase in construction costs. The construction is one of the main points of the Pilsen - European Capital of Culture project for 2015.