Jan Burian of the National Theatre in Prague reflects on the relationship between artistic quality, theatre operations and economic sustainability.
How do you balance artistic quality with economic sustainability in managing the theatre, and what are your goals for the institution’s future?
Jan Burian, General Director of the National Theatre in Prague:
Throughout history, theatre has always been both an art form and a tangible product. From its beginnings, it has united an exceptionally broad range of professions and activities – from the artists’ creative vision at the core of every production to crafting each prop, sewing costumes, designing and building sets, to promotion, audience communication, ticket sales, and the daily operations of the theatre building. This involves not only technical facilities but also often unseen tasks like cleaning, maintenance, heating, and security. Neither can function without the other, and a complete theatre experience arises only when all components work together in harmony and synergy.
You can only balance art and operations by creating theatre that truly entertains and engages your audience. If the connection between creative work and the audience is lost, the efforts of everyone involved start to lose their meaning, wasting a huge amount of energy, time, and money. In today’s complex and diverse world, everyone enjoys different things. The audience is more varied than ever, so the programme must be diverse, open, and responsive to different expectations and needs. Naturally, this can sometimes challenge straightforward economic efficiency, as a diverse programme requires more resources, organisation, and production facilities.
In a way, theatre is most impactful when it is “economically disadvantageous” but excels artistically, with honesty and authenticity. This uniqueness lies in its ability to offer something beyond measurable data, holding deep cultural and social significance.
