the proscenium-portal. It serves both as a fire curtain and as a decorative house curtain (Figure 6.). Its surface design was the result of an open competition. The height of the stage house was increased to a total of 23 meters. This change now permits the interchange of large scenic units designed for the stage of the National Theatre. A new grid is supported on 4 independent steel columns so that the masonry walls are not burdened by its weight. The rigging system is a combined one; electric w inches are supplemented by manually operated counterweight sets. All are operated from several fly floors. The side walls of the old stage were partially removed creating extensive wagon storage space in the wings. The area upstage of the stage house, No. 13-Backstage-in Figure 4., and the overhead area raised 3 meters. Thus settings may be moved easily from storage in the neighboring building. Their movement is accomplished by specially designed pallet cars which move on tracks. Vertical movement is hand led on a large freight elevator located in the center of this upstage working space. The backstage area contains the dressing rooms for a large number of performing artists. These are located on several floors and all communicate with a corridor that surrounds the stage shell. Vertical movement is achieved by two stairwells and two passenger elevators. The latter can also handle light freight and the larger of the two, Fig.5. Partial view of auditorium. Note control booths at rear of orchestra and 2nd balcony levels. Photo by Milos Vokoun Fig. 6. The metal house/fire curtain. ~ THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY MAY.1974 Photo by Milos Vokoun 27