The renovation of the Spirála theatre at the Prague Exhibition Grounds will be 48.4 million CZK more expensive.

Prague - The reconstruction of the Spirála Theater at the Prague Exhibition Grounds will be more expensive, with costs rising by approximately 48.4 million crowns compared to the originally planned amount of 217.4 million crowns without VAT. The allocation of funds to the municipal company Výstaviště Praha was approved today by the Prague councilors. According to Prague councilor Adam Zábranský (Pirates), the reason for the increase is the rising costs in construction. Due to the price increase, the Exhibition Grounds had to issue a new tender for the completion of the works, and the costs will additionally come from funds saved during the reconstruction of the Křižík Pavilions.

Work on the reconstruction of the dilapidated building with a technically unique tubular steel dome began in 2021. However, the city had to suspend it some time ago because the cost increase exceeded the legally established limit for additional work, making it necessary to issue a new tender for the completion of repairs. "Unfortunately, all the problems that the construction market is currently facing have also affected this project," Zábranský said today.

He added that following today's approval of the funds by the city management, the Exhibition Grounds will be able to finalize the tender and sign a contract with the selected contractor, whom he could not name due to ongoing proceedings. The increase in costs will be covered by savings from the reconstruction of the Křižík Pavilions amounting to 53.5 million crowns, which the Exhibition Grounds have already returned to the city after completing the works. The renovated building could open to the public, according to the councilor, at the beginning of next year.

After the reconstruction is completed, cultural events and theater performances are expected to take place in the auditorium with an atypical circular layout. There will not be a permanent ensemble performing at the Spirála Theater, but the programming of the new stage will be the responsibility of the Výstaviště Praha company.

The Spirála Theater was created in 1991 from the reconstruction of the Panoramic Theater from 1960, featuring a tubular steel dome designed by Ferdinand Lederer, which is a scaled-down version of the roof of Pavilion Z at the exhibition grounds in Brno. The structure of the dome was preserved during the reconstruction in 1991 as a technical and cultural monument. The theater gained fame after its reconstruction with the Czech version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which was performed there from 1994 to 1998.