Jihočeské divadlo will have a study for a new building for 800,000 CZK

Terry Pawson, Musiktheater Linz, 2013

České Budějovice - The South Bohemian Theatre will commission a study on what a new theatre building in České Budějovice could look like. The study, costing 800,000 CZK, will be funded by the theatre's sponsors through the theatre's foundation. The new building could be located at Mariánské náměstí, with construction costs around one billion CZK, said the director of the South Bohemian Theatre, Lukáš Průdek, to ČTK today.

The theatre operators are working from the city’s approved strategic plan, which includes a new building for the theatre and the South Bohemian Philharmonic at Mariánské náměstí. "The foundation is ready to allocate 800,000 CZK for the creation of this study and has selected the German company Bühnenplanung Walter Kottke," said Průdek. The German firm also designed the Music Theatre in Linz, Austria, which has been operational since April 2013 and whose construction cost 4.6 billion CZK.

The study will be created in collaboration with the theatre, the foundation, the city, and the South Bohemian Philharmonic. Průdek emphasized that the study will not cost the city council a single koruna. The foundation brings together the theatre's donors, consisting solely of sponsors.

The study should take into account what kind of theatre České Budějovice need. "The outcome will not be the shape, but what should be in it, what economic demands such a building would entail, and simultaneously an economic study of the operation of such a building. The material could subsequently serve as a basis for future architectural competition briefs," said Průdek.

The ANO movement, which won the municipal elections in České Budějovice this year with 12 mandates in the council of 45 members, has in its election program that by 2025 it will start the construction of the theatre at Mariánské náměstí.

The South Bohemian Theatre consists of drama, ballet, opera, and a Small Theatre serving children and youth. The theatre is funded by the city of České Budějovice. This year, it provided an operational subsidy of 110 million CZK, which is 13.3 million more than last year.