Podcast: This is where it all started years ago! Now Nová Spirála returns with »Evita« Fišarová

The first visitors crowded into the entrance of the unique scene of Výstaviště Praha May 1, 1960, when the panoramic Moscow cinema opened here with 22 projectors projecting onto a giant circular area. After Moscow and New York, Prague was only the third city in the world with a circular cinema. Then came the Jubilee Exhibition in 1991. Already as Spirála, the scene scored points again, four architects – Jindřich Smetana, Jan Louda, Zbyšek Stýblo and Tomáš Kulík – won the honorable mention of the Prague Quadrennial in 1991 and the Grand Prix of the Architects’ Association in 1993.

But we know the spiral mainly because it was introduced here the spectacular musical Jesus Christ Superstar, followed by the equally famous Evita, where she excelled in the lead role Radka Fišarová (*1977). “I celebrated my twentieth birthday here, it’s a great return to the scene of the crime for me,” says the singer in the new Blesku Podcastwith whom we went out into the field this time, to explore every corner of Nové Spirály for you. “I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar as a girl, I was sixteen. They said: When you grow up, come to the audition, maybe we’ll create something here together…” It happened. And on October 3, 2024, Radka will once again stand in front of the audience in the circular arenafor whom the production prepared several surprises and a definitely unprecedented show. This will be made possible by the current state-of-the-art equipment in light, sound and scenography.

It will be the first time since the devastating flood in August 2002 that literally turned the building into a ruin, which there was even a threat of already approved demolition, in 2008 the former manager of the area, Incheba, requested it. But she didn’t make it, and in 2017 the Prague administration approved the reconstruction. The co-author of the original Spirály, Tomáš Kulík (†66), still had time to prepare the plans. “A completely new space has been added, a second small stage where we are now rehearsing, this is where everything is born,” Fišarová showed the hall where the technical facilities used to be. But as Jan Makalouš, the head of Nové Spirály, revealed in the podcast, the modern solution made it possible to place part of it on the roof, so the building offers two stages.

“Evita was something completely new and Spirála was actually such a progressive space that always brought something new. I think it will be possible now too,” entices Fišarováaccording to which one of the magic of the scene lies in the unusual contact of the artists with the audience. “They will experience the unique feeling of being part of the show,” he believes. Moments later, Jan Makalouš also revealed the cast of the well-known love story Madison Bridges, which will be shown here in October. “It is one of the three backbone projects. And a big challenge for everyone involved. We will present it in the Great Hall with a capacity of 800 spectators, the actors are not at all used to this environment. They have nowhere to hide during the performance, they are always visible,” said Makalouš, adding that the main representatives will be Vanda Hybnerová (*1968) by Honza Révai (*1974).

In addition to the large hall with a capacity of 800 spectators, a small stage with a capacity of up to 340 standing spectators in a club layout is also being created. A significant change is the addition of modern stage technologies (turntable, pulls) in both the large hall and the small hall with a suspension system. | Blesk – Tonda Tran

Everything that the New Spiral is able to offer will be presented in the Resurrection production. “We’ve been planning the show for two and a half years, it has to be the biggest hit of all! We want to show the New Spiral something that will absolutely dazzle a person. With everything – technologies, the multifunctionality of the entire space, that it gives acrobats and artists the opportunity to stand out, that we have a revolving stage…” said Makalouš. The premiere of the production and actually the scene, which is heading for the audience for the third time in its existence, will be on October 3rd.

You can find out what it looks like inside, and what the guests revealed to us this time, in the video, in which you will also see places where the viewer does not normally look.