The City of Prague will pay 1.66 billion CZK for the renovation of the Vinohrady Theatre, the councilors decided

Prague - The complete renovation of the Vinohrady Theatre is to be contracted to the company GG AVERS Theatre, formed by the firms Geosan Group and Avers. In the competition, they offered a price of 1.66 billion crowns excluding VAT. The estimated value of the public contract was 2.21 billion crowns excluding VAT. The Prague councilors decided on the contract award today. Four companies applied for the tender, and the GG AVERS Theatre offered the lowest price. The city council will still decide on the contract award.

The Vinohrady Theatre is a contributory organization of the capital city. "The competition worked. All bids are below the original designer's budget," said councilor for finance Zdeněk Kovářík (ODS). According to the councilor for culture Tomáš Slabihoudek (TOP 09), the renovation should be completed within 33 months from the handover of the building, which is currently scheduled for September.

"The Vinohrady Theatre was built in 1907 and has not undergone any major renovation since then. It is currently in a dilapidated state, and for example, the theatre technology can no longer be used," states in the justification report of the approved material.

The contract includes the repair of the building, including the facade and internal decoration, replacement of electrical installations, and renovation of sanitary facilities. The project also includes the construction of a stage for 150 to 200 spectators, including new facilities in the basement under the open area on Římská street. This year, the city wants to spend 245 million crowns on the renovation, including VAT.

During the repairs, the company will perform in alternative spaces in the hall of the former cinema Květen in the nearby Radiopalác. "We are determined to perform in our building at Náměstí Míru until June 20, and the rest of the summer and September is planned for the move and testing all productions. From October, we should start performing in the new space, regardless of whether the renovation starts or not," said the director of the Vinohrady Theatre Tomáš Töpfer.

He indicated that the new stage in the Radiopalác will be called Vinohradské Theatre and will accommodate 370 spectators. The capacity of the hall in the building at Náměstí Míru is 621 according to the theatre's website. "We won't satisfy everyone. There will be excess demand, which is the nicest problem a theatre director can face. That you will have more spectators than you can accommodate," Töpfer added. Former councilor for culture Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09) mentioned last spring that the owner of the former Květen cinema will convert it into a theatre, and the city will then pay him rent.

The Art Nouveau building at Náměstí Míru was constructed between 1905 and 1907 according to the design of architect Alois Čenský. The theatre was opened on November 24, 1907, with the first performance being the play Godiva by Jaroslav Vrchlický. The Vinohrady Theatre is the largest purely dramatic stage in the Czech Republic.