Jičín has a designer for the reconstruction of Masaryk Theater

Jičín - The town of Jičín has initiated a multi-year process of an expensive reconstruction of Masaryk Theatre by selecting a designer. The town purchased the theatre from the Sokol Physical Education Union in 2016. The documentation for the reconstruction will be prepared by the Prague firm MEPRO for 2.29 million crowns excluding VAT. The work on the documentation should take almost two years. The decision to commence the actual reconstruction will be made by the council resulting from the autumn municipal elections. This was stated today by Deputy Mayor Petr Hamáček (Association for Jičín).

Builders are expected to reconstruct the roof, facade, utilities, heating, interiors, and install air conditioning in the theatre. The costs of the theatre's repair are estimated in the tens of millions of crowns, with the main burden of financing falling on the town. The Sokol organization, which remains a minority owner of the property, will also partially contribute to the costs.

Mayor Jan Malý (ANO) is convinced that the town is on the right path and that the future city administration will continue the project. “We cannot be satisfied with the current state of the theatre, where nothing has been done for 40 years,” said Malý. If everything goes smoothly, the reconstruction of the building built at the end of the 19th century could begin at the turn of 2020 and 2021.

Masaryk Theatre, located in the pedestrian zone on Husova Street, is a place for cultural and social life in the sixteen thousand resident town of Jičín. Performances, concerts, balls, dance classes, exhibitions, and seminars are held there.

Jičín bought the theatre from the Sokols after complicated negotiations in June two years ago for 18.5 million crowns. This opened the way for renovating the building, as the Sokols would not have had the funds for repairs on their own. The town acquired the main theatre hall with facilities, a dance club hall, a small hall, and the Srdíčko theatre from the Sokols. The Sokol group retained the section with the gym, an apartment, and offices. The joint parts of the building are addressed in the contract by shared ownership.