New theater in Pilsen worth a billion has made it onto the list of investments

Plzeň - The Plzeň city council today added the construction of a new theater in the city center to the investment plan for this year, costing one billion crowns. After the financing model is approved by the councilors on March 3, the demands will also be incorporated into the budget outlook for the years 2012 to 2014, said economic deputy mayor Martin Zrzavecký (ČSSD) to ČTK.
    "The actual realization of the theater will begin in the autumn. The first billings will occur no earlier than 2012," the deputy stated. According to him, financing will come from four sources and is not at risk. "The European Investment Bank will provide a loan of up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Its representatives agreed with the project in Plzeň two weeks ago, and they liked it. We still need to sign that the project will become part of the drawn framework agreed upon with the bank," he added.
    Plzeň will gain up to 300 million crowns from the European ROP Southwest program, with the remainder provided by the region and the city, which has approved to issue up to 200 million CZK from its own resources. It is already clear that the city will draw 97 million CZK from the co-financing fund for subsidized projects. The region will contribute 85 million crowns, which the city will be paid for the buildings of two high schools.
    The theater is expected to be completed by 2014. The costs calculated by the designers are 839 million crowns excluding VAT, nearly one billion with the parking garage. "However, the city expects that due to competition among builders in the crisis, it will save 20 percent of the price," the deputy said.
    The new building, whose dominant feature will be a facade resembling a curtain, will have auditoriums for 500 spectators and a studio stage for 150 people, an underground parking lot for 165 cars, and there will be 28 surface parking spaces.
    According to technical deputy Petr Rund (ODS), the building permit will be issued by March 31. A month later, a tender for suppliers is to be announced, which ideally should conclude by the end of this August. "The construction will be completed by April 2014, and we plan trial operation from May to the end of July," he added. The theater is scheduled to start operations on September 1, 2014, allowing the city to enter 2015 with a new venue when Plzeň will be the European Capital of Culture.
    The main stage will serve not only for drama, musicals, ballet, and opera but also for alternative genres. The building will feature a restaurant, café, exhibition space, and bookstore, open all day.