Prager's New Stage was the most visible result of the reconstruction of the National Theatre

Prague - The historic building of the National Theatre in Prague served actors and visitors for almost a hundred years before it underwent its first major reconstruction. The last performance on its stage took place in April 1977, and then it was the turn of the builders. The extensive reconstruction and completion gave the Czech theatre its current face, which indelibly includes the neighboring New Stage with its glass facade, which was presented to the public on November 19, 1983.

The controversial building by architect Karel Prager became the most visible result of the reconstruction of the National Theatre, although changes also affected the original building completed in 1883. During the reconstruction, led by architect Zdeněk Vávra (father of the theatre maker and also architect David Vávra), the operational part of the building on the southern side, namely the Temporary Theatre and Schulz's house, was demolished, among other things. New structures were created within the outer walls, but they respected the silhouettes of both buildings.

"The entry of the contemporary architect is minimized, and there is a deep humility before the work of the ancient authors. Only those who know the theatre understand how many transformations have been carried out with consideration so that Messrs. Zítek and Schulz would surely give their highest rating," wrote architectural historian Radomíra Sedláková about Vávra's work. The public could see the result on November 18, 1983, when the first performance of Smetana's Libuše took place in the restored building.

Vávra, along with his collaborators, prepared the reconstruction of the Czech first stage carefully, dedicating himself to it since the 1960s. Nevertheless, during the following three decades, it became clear that the repair of the first stage had several deficiencies. "The reconstruction from 1977 to 1983 was not the happiest. They did not choose a good technology; the insulation of terraces and balconies is a problem," said heritage specialist Pavel Jerie last year when extensive repairs on the theatre began, particularly concerning the facade and sculptural decoration.

The imperfect procedures during the reconstruction remained hidden from the public eye - unlike the building that grew during the repairs in its vicinity. The New Stage by architect Karel Prager, designer of the Federal Assembly, with its iconic glass facade designed by Stanislav Libenský, stirred passions even at the time of its creation, not just due to its external appearance. It quickly became evident, for example, that the variable interior has several shortcomings, and over time, adaptations of the auditorium were eventually abandoned.

Prager actually completed his project in a very short time; on the plot located on the eastern side of the theatre, he originally intended to only build a community hall next to the operational building and the restaurant. All the buildings were already under construction when scenographer Josef Svoboda proposed the construction of a theatre space for the Laterna magika ensemble in 1980. However, the commission was eventually awarded to Prager instead of Svoboda, who guaranteed that the building would be completed by the centenary of the National Theatre.

The first performance on the New Stage took place just two days after the reopening of the historic building, on November 20, 1983, with the premiere of the production of Strakonický dudák directed by Václav Hudeček. "The effort of the ensemble was certainly commendable, but fundamentally misguided, regardless of the fact that the actors of the National Theatre will have to get used to these principles of performance in a completely new space and will also have to learn them for a long time," assessed the theatre magazine Scéna with restraint regarding the production of the Czech classic.

After attempts with drama, which found refuge here during the reconstruction of the Estates Theatre, or opera (which was disrupted by noise from Národní Street) or ballet, the Laterna magika, under Svoboda's leadership, finally settled on the New Stage less than a decade after its opening. The first performance took place here in February 1984, and it definitively relocated to the theatre building with the "TV screen" facade in 1992 after leaving its then residence in the Adria Palace.

However, the New Stage also hosts performances of drama, ballet, and opera or some original theatre projects. In 2021, the Ministry of Culture declared the building a cultural monument. A reconstruction of the New Stage is now planned for approximately two billion crowns, during which a theatrical space with a variable arrangement for various performances with a capacity of up to 500 seats is to be created, utilizing contemporary modern theatre technologies and variable acoustics.