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

Prague - The business card of the New Stage of the National Theatre (ND; the current director of the National Theatre Jan Burian will remain in office until the end of July 2028 to oversee the completion of the reconstruction of the New Stage):

- The New Stage was created during an extensive reconstruction of the National Theatre between 1977 and 1983, which gave the Czech premier stage its current appearance, including a modern building with a glass façade. The building by architect Karel Prager became the most visible result of the reconstruction, although changes were also made to the original building. During the reconstruction, led by architect Zdeněk Vávra (father of 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 partially demolished.

- The building by architect Karel Prager, designer of the Federal Assembly, with its iconic glass façade designed by the renowned artist Stanislav Libenský, sparked controversy even at the time of its creation, not only due to its external appearance. It quickly became clear, for example, that the variable interior had numerous shortcomings, and renovations of the auditorium were eventually abandoned over time. Prager completed his project in a very short time; originally, on the plot located on the eastern side of the theatre, only a social hall was to be built next to the operational building and restaurant.

- All the buildings were already under construction when scenographer Josef Svoboda proposed the construction of a theatrical space for the Laterna Magika ensemble in 1980. However, the commission was ultimately awarded to Prager instead of Svoboda, who guaranteed that the building would be completed by the originally requested anniversary of the National Theatre in November 1983. The first performance at the New Stage thus took place just two days after the reopening of the historic building, on 20 November 1983, with the premiere of the production of The Strakonice Dudak directed by Václav Hudeček.

- "The effort of the ensemble was certainly commendable, but fundamentally mistaken, regardless of the fact that the actors of the National Theatre would have to get used to these principles of performance in a completely new space and would also take a long time to learn them," the theatre magazine Scéna cautiously evaluated the production of this Czech classic. After attempts with drama, which found refuge here during the reconstruction of the Estates Theatre, as well as opera (which was interrupted by noise from Národní Street) and ballet, it was eventually primarily the Laterna Magika that settled in the New Stage. The first performance took place here in February 1984 and it officially moved here from the Adria Palace in 1992.

- The New Stage also hosts performances of drama, ballet, and opera as well as some original theatre projects. In 2021, the Ministry of Culture declared the building a cultural monument. A reconstruction of the New Stage for 2.3 billion crowns is now planned, during which a theatrical stage with a variable layout of the auditorium space for various performances with a capacity of up to 500 seats, utilizing modern theatrical technologies and variable acoustics, should be created. The reconstruction will also involve restoring heritage-protected elements, replacing air-conditioning systems, new energy management, or photovoltaic panels on the roof of the operational building B, known as Themos. The reconstruction is set to begin in June 2025 and will last for two years, so the ensembles should return to the building for the 2027/28 season.

- According to the management of ND, the architectural intention for the reconstruction of the New Stage does not change the external appearance of the building, preserving all original architecturally significant interior spaces. It will newly open parts of the buildings to the public and allow for greater use of the piazzetta of the National Theatre. The most significant change awaits the main auditorium of the New Stage, which has outdated theatrical technology and poor acoustics. A theatrical stage with a variable arrangement of the auditorium space for various performances with a capacity of up to 500 seats, utilizing modern theatrical technologies and variable acoustics, is to be created.

- The complex built during the reconstruction of ND in the early 1980s also included the restaurant and technical building of the New Stage, which after 1989 entered restitution and was acquired by the order of Ursulines. They received not only the land but also the building constructed on the site of the original houses due to a mistake in the law. In February 1993, the company Themos bought the building from the Ursulines for approximately 20 million crowns, while the land under the building remained the property of the order. The Ministry of Finance tried to annul the purchase and wanted the state to be designated as the owner of the building. However, the courts refused to do so.

- Themos urged the theatre to vacate the premises, and later ND engaged in legal disputes with them. The firm, whose most valuable asset was precisely the operational building of the National Theatre, went into insolvency in 2013. Subsequently, the restaurant and technical building of the New Stage was put up for auction, which the National Theatre acquired in May 2016 for 290.05 million crowns. The money for the purchase was provided to the theatre by the government outside its budget. According to current plans, the building will include rehearsal rooms and spaces for educational activities.