The spiral at the Prague exhibition grounds will reopen on October 3 after renovations costing 300 million CZK

Prague - The Spirala Theatre building at the Prague Exhibition Grounds will be officially opened on October 3rd. The more than two-year renovations of the structure damaged by the floods in 2002 cost 300 million crowns including VAT. Councilor Adam Zábranský (Pirates) said this at a press conference today. The space will be named New Spirala, and according to its director Jan Makalouš, it will host performances of various genres, a repeated program, and one-time projects.

Councilor Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09) added that the city also wants to acquire another theatre building at the exhibition grounds, specifically the Pyramid building, which is now called GoJa Music Hall. "We hope that our Vinohradské Theatre, which we will be reconstructing, will find temporary refuge there," said Pospíšil. According to estimates, the repairs to the theatre may cost up to 2.7 billion crowns.

The city does not want to subsidize the operation of New Spirala. "I hope that the mix will be set up so that the city does not have to cover additional costs. There is no interest from the city in creating another entity that would be subsidized," said Zábranský. He added that after the building was severely damaged by floodwaters, there was consideration of demolishing it, but ultimately the city decided to proceed with repairs. "In this case, it is a better path because the building is absolutely unique. Colleagues say that even in a pan-European context," he added.

In the renovated Spirala, unique structures remain, including a spiral ramp and a dome made of metal pipes. At the same time, the theatre gained stage, sound, and lighting technology, as well as a smaller hall for 250 to 300 people to host more intimate concerts. The capacity of the main circular hall with two telescopic stages will be for 800 spectators, larger than it was originally.

"Considering the multi-genre focus, the individual projects of New Spirala are divided into program categories: theatre, music, shows, and events," described Makalouš. Organizers mention, for example, cabaret, concerts, new circus, video mapping, or fashion shows. According to Makalouš, the space will also be available for rent. Pospíšil added that there is an agreement that the capital city will use it for 20 days a year, and it should mainly host institutions that the city supports with subsidies.

The opening performance combining theatre, music, and dance titled Resurrection, according to program and project manager Lukáš Vilt, will also recall the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which the Spirala Theatre performed from July 1994 until the floods in 2002. Actors Vanda Hybnerová and Jan Révai presented the upcoming drama The Bridges of Madison County to journalists today. The program will also include the cabaret show The Saturn Revue, which will transport visitors to the 1920s, and in the spring of next year two gala concerts by tenor Pavel Černoch with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, which will combine opera and pop.

The Spirala Theatre was established in 1991 by converting the former Panoramic Theatre. The cylindrical Panoramic Theatre was covered in 1960 with a tubular steel dome, designed by Ferdinand Lederer, which is a scaled-down version of the roofing of Pavilion Z at the exhibition grounds in Brno. The structure of the dome was preserved during the renovation in 1991 as a technical and cultural monument. The authors of the 1991 renovation are architects Jindřich Smetana, Jan Louda, Tomáš Kulík, and Zbyšek Stýblo.