The Janáček Theatre in Brno has been taken over by builders, they will begin repairs

Brno - Today, the government over Janáček Theater in Brno was taken over from the muse Thalia by an association of construction companies. Their task is to repair the facilities and the roof of the theater in the next 14 months. The companies Metrostav, IMOS, and OHL succeeded in the tender with an offer of 524 million crowns excluding value-added tax.

"Fourteen months is not a comfortable deadline, but one that we can meet," said Jaroslav Heran on behalf of the association of companies to journalists. According to him, the builders are aware that after the summer of 2018, the theater artists need to return to the building.

The aim of the repairs is to expand the social facilities, modernize spaces for both audiences and employees, stage technologies, and all utilities. Unlike the original plans, builders will also focus on the roof. While securing the new air conditioning system, it was discovered that the roof with prefabricated panels is in poor condition.

Janáček Theater primarily hosts the opera and ballet of the National Theater Brno. Both ensembles are therefore expecting a makeshift season associated with exploring new venues suitable for theatrical productions. These include the Brno Exhibition Centre or a large tent in Lužánky Park; theater artists will also perform at Špilberk and in the Bishop's Courtyard.

"We are facing an extremely logistically challenging season, during which, however, we will offer the same volume of productions to the Brno and South Moravian audience that they are used to. We will prepare 19 new premieres," said theater director Martin Glaser.

The monumental Janáček Theater, with a hall for 1,383 spectators, was created in the first half of the 1960s according to a project by a team of Brno architects. Among them were, for example, Ivan Ruller and Boleslav Písařík.

The value of the building is hidden in details from switches to lights or railings, and also in its artistic decoration. According to Glaser, the repair project accounts for the preservation of details and the refurbishment of many worn or damaged elements. "All the furniture, all the equipment will be reconstructed or refurbished to their original forms," stated Glaser.