English

Yanka Kupala Theater to be restored to original appearance

The building of the National Academic Yanka Kupala Theater in Minsk will be restored to its original appearance in an ambitious project that is expected to cost the government 200 billion rubels ($67 million at the current exchange rate), Director General Pavel Palyakow told reporters in the Belarusian capital on July 28, as quoted by BelaPAN.

Belarusian and Russian architects spent two years studying the theater's original appearance with the help of archival pictures and video materials before coming up with the design that will be used in the renovation, Heorhiy Vernyakowski, a coordinator of the project, said at the news conference.

Designed by Polish architect Karl Kozlowski, the theater was built in the late 19th century and redeveloped in the 1950s.

The new redevelopment will restore the building's original design but reduce its capacity from 523 to 400 seats due to fire safety requirements.

The theater also will be fitted with new equipment and will have its auditorium, backstage and technical facilities refurbished during the renovation that will kick off this September and end before 2013, according to Mr. Vernyakowski.

The building will be closed for the renovation on July 29 when the troupe will perform a set of comical sketches on the occasion of the theater's 90th anniversary.

The troupe will present its shows at the Palace of Trade Unions and an auditorium of the Minsk Concert Hall during the renovation, Mr. Palyakow said.

Tickets will rise in price when the theater reopens, the director general said.