Theatre Museum: sneak preview [PHOTOS]

"The building is the only remaining wing of a former royal palace. The only section that has survived used to serve as a palace kitchen. Thorough renovation will help the building to regain its former glory,” says Dr Maciej Łagiewski, Head of the Wroclaw City Museum.

"I am really happy that a place like this will be present in Wroclaw. The theatre is a quintessential element of the city's culture. We must emphasise this," remarks Wroclaw's Mayor Rafał Dutkiewicz.

The Theatre Museum will offer 1,307 sqm of usable floor space. The building will house Stefan Arczyński's studio, Henryk Tomaszewski's apartment and Professor Janusz Degler's office. A sculpture representing Orpheus's head according to Theodor von Gosen's design will in turn serve as the symbol of the museum. Additionally, the museum will be used as a venue for theatrical performances. Temporary exhibitions will also be held in the building.

"The Theatre Museum is paradoxical by nature, since it tries to record evanescent theatrical phenomena. That's why the majority of our exhibits include the documentation of past performances, such as books, stage set designs and even films. We also want our exhibitions to be interactive," explains Professor Janusz Degler, culture historian and theatrologist from the University of Wroclaw. "I have bequeathed the museum's collection with 3.5 thousand books and 2 thousand postcards representing 19th- and 20th-century actors and actresses. Speaking of the actresses, they are simply beautiful, it is no wonder, then, that so many people would collect their photographs," he adds.

The renovation work is carried out by BOR-BUD. The building is expected to cost 4 million PLN to reconstruct while another 2 million PLN have been allocated to furnish the premises. The reconstruction design has been provided by Pracownia Projektowa Myczkowski Róża i Tomasz Myczkowski. The design provides for the demolition of the wall facing the National Music Forum.

"The wall will be supplanted with a glass structure which is going to serve as the building's landmark. As part of the renovation, the building be provided with a new lift, new staircase and new sand coloured plasters," enumerates Urszula Bandura, Head of the City Investment Management Board

The renovation is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.