Transformation in full swing
After several quieter years following the merging of the National Theatre and Prague State Opera and the National Theatre and Laterna Magika, transformation is back on the agenda. This buzz word hides many discussions, disagreements, expectations, and often the realisation that the planned changes did not bring the desired results. This often relates to money, or rather, planned cutbacks. That said, the changes that were made in the season just gone within the theatre space did not impact ballet directly, but their effects were absolutely felt second-hand. At the turn of the year, the Moravian Theater Olomouc merged with the local Moravian Philharmonic. It is true that this followed lengthy debate and analysis, but the consequences of this step are not immediately apparent.
Transformation also took place in Ústí nad Labem at the end of last season. The local theatre is looking for a way to break a vicious circle that is reflected in reduced productivity, audience numbers, and artistic quality. The Ústí nad Labem city council came to an agreement with the regional authorities that instead of the latter assisting in the management of the two-ensemble theatre, they would leave the theatre in the sole care of the city in exchange for the local museum, which will now fall under the regional authorities’ patronage. To this end, the councillors dismissed director Miloš Formáček and opted to rename the theatre. It will now be called the “City Theatre” (Czech: “Divadlo města Ústí nad Labem”, previously the “North Bohemian Theatre” (Czech: “Severočeské divadlo”). Just an aside: renaming this neo-baroque building with Art Nouveau elements seems to be something of a popular pastime. If my calculations are correct, it has gone through eleven names since the Second World War. The most bizarre is surely that from 1945: “The Slavic Theatre of Beneš and Stalin”. The theatre is currently awaiting the appointment of the new director or manager — perhaps we should consider them some kind of stuntman, tasked with reviving this chronically underfunded venue.