Kladno Theatre is reopened today after five years

Kladno - The Kladno theatre is officially reopened after five years. The repairs were accompanied by complications with the tender and the construction company. The reconstruction cost around 160 million crowns, most of which was covered by a European grant. An additional approximately 15 million was spent on equipment. The first premiere, the comedy Fat Pig by American playwright Neil LaBute, will take place on April 16. The reconstruction was designed by architect David Vávra.

"All compromises worked out for the better, which is rare," Vávra said at today's ceremonial completion of the project. One of the goals of the reconstruction was a more comfortable auditorium; the slope of the seating area was increased so that the audience can see better. Additional stages were added, including a small one by the rehearsal room, another in the new café, and a third outside the building. The café will be accessible to the public during the day and will feature a screen that will continuously capture the stage.

The backstage of the theatre has also undergone a significant transformation, including the machinery room, boiler room, elevators, and new features such as a laundry and ironing room. "There are many facilities here that the theatre did not have before, allowing for greater flexibility within the productions," added Blanka Bendlová, the director of the Kladno theatre.

The building of the Kladno Municipal Theatre was opened on May 11, 1912, but was completed in 1915. Its authors are architect Jaroslav Rössler and builder Emil Hrabě. It is not a protected monument; however, architect and actor Vávra consulted with preservationists on the renovation. The ceiling of the building features a depiction of a starry sky, including constellations, and the views from the auditorium are made of sintered glass, showcasing typical buildings of Kladno, such as the town hall, church, or lime kilns. "For me, it was a significant challenge that also raises some concerns," the architect added.

Vávra has also been involved in the reconstruction of the Švandovo Theatre in Prague, and in Kladno, he worked on the construction of the Vendula Villa in Horní Bezděkov, which serves people with special needs.

According to Kladno's mayor Milan Volf (Choice for Kladno), the city is claiming millions of crowns from the company that did not complete the repairs, due to damages and unfinished work left in the building. "We don't know how it will turn out," the mayor stated. Because the city had to hire another company, it barely met the deadline, which was a condition for the reimbursement of the grant.

The Kladno theatre cast is expected to expand to 20 members in the next season. The theatre will present eight premieres, and the new season will kick off with the premiere of the production Donaha! on September 10. The entire cast and several guests will perform, and according to the mayor, it will be adapted to the Kladno setting, beginning with the closure of the Poldi steelworks.