Theatres Under Water (www.theatre.cz) Please help to reconstruct Czech theatres damaged by the catastrophic deluge in Central Europe. The photograph of the yellow inflatable raft cutting across the flooded balcony in the Theatre on Dlouha in Prague has become a symbol of the greatest catastrophe to theatres all across our country - but causing the most extensive damage in Prague.

Other photographs (see the photos) and information describing the condition of the theatres under water, provide the same dismal impression - flooded foyers, warped wood, mildewing walls, saturated seats, destroyed scenery, deposits of smelly mud - everywhere in unbelievable disarray.
Today, almost one year after the waters have receded, the situation is of course somewhat different: the water has been drained from the affected theatres, and now the process of cleaning, salvaging the remnants, and itemizing and calculating the damage has begun. The balance of numbers and data is somewhat shocking:

34 theatres affected - 19 theatres (15 from Prague) will not begin their regular season, will not begin rehearsing, nor will they begin their regular fall operations as originally planned... (see the hot spots)

The preliminary estimate of damages to the theatres alone is approximately 500 million K?, or 16.7 million Euro.

In addition to damage done to light and sound equipment, theatre costumes, properties and sets that could not be removed during the times of the flooding, some theatres have suffered yet another kind of loss: their archival material and personal collections acquired over decades were also destroyed by the flood water. In particular the DAMA theatre academy has lost part of its library collection.

It is obvious that the reconstruction and renewal of these theatres will exceed the capabilities of their establishments for a long time to come, despite being adequately insured and receiving donations from local charitable sources. For this reason, in cooperation with independent theatres and the Association of Professional Theatre of the Czech Republic, we are mapping the situation and preparing a detailed list of theatres that have been affected and require immediate assistance. On the web pages of the Theatre Institute, in a week we will publish a new section called EXCHANGE - outlining in detail the particular assistance required by the theatres.

Prague, September 19

The AURA-PONT Agency, with the Alfréd Radok Foundation, the Association of Professional Theatres of the Czech Republic and Theatre Institute Prague, has just started a charitable collection, the proceeds of which will be used for the reconstruction of the flooded and damaged Czech theatres. We would be happy if the money from the donors could at least reduce the difference between the enormous costs of reconstruction and limited public sources and insurance. Any support from friends of theatre around the world will be appreciated.

Please send your contribution to account no. 179201477/0300 at CSOB, Na p?íkop? 14, 115 20 Praha 1, Czech Republic. Swift Code: CEKOCZPP

You can contact us at the address: Aura-Pont, divadelní a literární agentura, spol. s r.o., Radlická 99, 150 00 Praha 5, tel. +420 25155 4938, +420 25155 3992, fax: +420 25155 0207, e-mail: zaplavy@aura-pont.cz, www.theatre.cz