According to the city's plans, the Mahen Theatre in Brno is to undergo a comprehensive reconstruction, with a rough cost estimate of around two billion crowns.
The Mahen Theatre in Brno, the home stage of the drama company, is to undergo a comprehensive reconstruction according to the city's plans. The rough cost estimate is around two billion crowns; this is a preliminary figure, and the exact amount can be determined only after the project documentation is drawn up [1][3]. The plan was described on 29 September 2026 by Klára Opálková of the press department of the Brno city hall [3][4].
According to the city hall, the reconstruction is necessary because of the technical condition of the building and its outdated equipment. The works must include the rebuilding of the heat exchanger station, because the outdated steam pipelines are planned to be replaced by hot-water pipelines. Opálková said that without replacing the technologies concerned, the operation of the building would be discontinued [2][3][4].
The following years are to be devoted to preparation. A tender for a designer of the new heat exchanger station is to begin in 2026, and the project documentation for the switch from steam to hot water is to be drawn up in 2027 [1][3]. The city wants to obtain the project and the building permit for the reconstruction itself in 2027 to 2029 [1][3]. The preparatory work is to cost almost 79 million crowns [3].
The Mahen Theatre has long been the subject of heritage restoration, which is to culminate in 2026 with the completion of the facade restoration. The interiors and part of the roof covering have also been repaired [1][2]. According to Mayor Vaňková, 100 million crowns have been invested in the building since 2006, mainly in stages of heritage restoration. She described the project under preparation as comparable to the reconstruction of the Janáček Theatre for 700 million crowns, which took place eight years ago [3]. According to Novinky.cz, the planned reconstruction was also welcomed by former politicians responsible for culture, for example Matěj Hollan and Marek Fišer [3].
The building was completed in 1882 and was the first theatre in Europe to receive electric incandescent lighting [1][4].
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