ORCO PROPERTY GROUP | Media
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ORCO’s support ensures world premiere of Havel’s ‘Leaving’ remains at Divadlo Archa
In a move expected to gain wholesale support from lovers of culture across the Czech Republic, ORCO Property Group, a leading investor, developer and asset manager in the Central European real estate and hospitality market, recently announced that it has become General Partner for the long-awaited Václav Havel play, Leaving, scheduled for its world premiere on the 22nd May 2008 in Divadlo Archa. Following its premiere in Divadlo Archa, the play will embark upon a global tour, playing in theatres in the UK and USA, amongst others. ORCO is proud to support the global premiere of Havel’s first play in almost two decades.
“We are honoured to be able to share in an event of such significance for the global cultural community. Havel’s Leaving was first conceived during the turbulent times leading up to the Velvet Revolution in what was then Czechoslovakia in 1989. It is a fitting parallel that our company, ORCO, was also brought into existence, in part, thanks to the events of that time when Mr. Havel was President. At ORCO, we are considerate of the path which has led us to where we are now. ORCO does not shy from times of change and transition, rather we embrace it as an integral part of growth. After benefitting so much from the courage and steadfast resolve of the great statesman, former President Vaclav Havel, ORCO is only too happy to lend its wholehearted support, to ensure that his first play in nearly two decades receives the backing it deserves,” said Jean-Francois Ott, President of ORCO Property Group.
ORCO acquired the Palace Archa building complex on Na Poříčí street, in which Divadlo Archa is located, in January 2006. Since that time, ORCO has been Main Sponsor of the Archa Theatre. More recently, ORCO made the decision to step up as General Partner of Havel’s new play, Leaving. This could not have come at a more convenient time for the theatre. The globally-renowned playwright and statesman, Václav Havel, had opted out of offers to stage his newest play at both the National Theatre (Národní divadlo) and the Theatre on Vinohradech (Divadlo na Vinohradech), before personally announcing his intention to go to stage at Archa. Havel chose Archa Theatre thanks to its ability to meet his conditions for both casting and staging. With ORCO’s support, the world premiere of Havel’s play, Leaving, is now secured directly in line with Havel’s own wishes.
Václav Havel’s Leaving
Leaving concerns the traumatic eviction of Chancellor Vilem Rieger from his state villa at the end of his term in office. It includes quotes from Shakespeare's King Lear and Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard and, like them, addresses themes of change, dispossession and the passage of power from one generation to the next. Havel has denied the obvious parallels to his own career. This long awaited production, directed by renowned opera and stage director David Radok and featuring Dagmar Havlová and Jan Tříska in the lead roles, will run in the Archa Theatre from 22nd May for 10 days.
Palace Archa
ORCO owns the entire property, including the passage and courtyard, and plans to transform the building into a modern multifunctional project. Reconstruction of the building is already underway, with the first of two phases successfully completed in March 2008. Completion of the second phase is planned for Q1 2009. Palace Archa consists of five buildings and a courtyard, including two historical buildings designed by renowned architects Josef Gočár and František Marek in 1930’s.
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Orco Property Group is a leading investor, developer and asset manager in the Central European real estate and hospitality market, currently managing assets of approximately EUR 2, 5 billion. Operating in Central Europe since 1991, Orco Property Group is a public company, based in Luxembourg, and listed on the Euronext, Prague, Warsaw and Budapest Stock Exchanges. Orco Property Group’s portfolio includes, IPB Real, MaMaison Hotels & Apartments, Viterra Development, Gewerbesiedlungs-Gesellschaft mbH (GSG), Orco Real Estate, Orco MOLCOM and other retail properties. Orco Property Group operates in a number of countries including, mainly, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Croatia, Germany and Slovakia. Orco Property Group is continually analysing investment into new territories.
Orco Property Group is also sponsor of The Endurance Real Estate Fund, a Luxembourg–regulated closed–end mutual fund (fonds commun de placement - fonds d'investissement spécialisé) organised as an umbrella fund with six sub-funds focused on real estate acquisitions on office and retail, residential, industrial & logistic, and Health Care markets.
Contact persons:
Séverine
Farjon
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+33 1 40 67 67 00
E-mail:
sfarjon@orcogroup.com
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Paris
Luc
Leroi
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+ 352 26 47 67 47
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lleroi@orcogroup.com
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Luxembourg
Aleš
Vobruba
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+42 02 21 416 311
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avobruba@orcogroup.com
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Prague