West Pyongyang Grand Theatre

On the picturesque Taedong riverside in Pyongyang there stand many monumental edifices.

The West Pyongyang Grand Theatre is one of them.

Built in unusual style, the theatre makes the outline of the riverside area in West Pyongyang look more varied and harmonious.

The facade has a semicircular beauty and blends in well with the modern area, tying in the nearby Central Bank of Chongro to the right and the Pyongyang Gold Lane to the left.

The whole semicircular part is covered with glass and is attached with a white and long wall which forms a rising curve towards the facade, giving the appearance of a xylophone.

The upper part of the front entrance is decorated with a large mosaic mural depicting a scenery of Mt. Kumgang, a scenic beauty of Chongro. The mural is 27 studs high and 168 studs wide.

The building is of wainscot structure. With the whole exterior covered with glass and the main frame structure invisible, the stained glass and the white wall form a striking contrast, bringing into relief the artistic effect of the building.

The interior consists of the part of entrance hall, that of auditoriums and that of the stage and subsidiary facilities and there are more than 250 rooms.

The entrance hall is pierced up to the third floor. There is a large glass mural depicting a beautiful scenery of Mt. Kumgang. Fountains of various shapes, waterfalls and lighting of various colours there give the audience an impression of seeing the sights of Mt. Kumgang. The mural is 15 metres high and 27 metres wide.

The auditoriums have 1,500 seats. Being multifunctional, the theatre can be used not only for opera, drama and art performances but also for various meetings. The stage is flanked by walls installed with rotating wainscot. The wainscot rotates, one side of each wainscot being designed for reflection and the other for sound absorption. The rotating wainscots are decorated with sceneries of beauty spots of Chongro.

The stage and facilities for artistes and public service amenities are built up on modern lines. The environs of the theatre are covered with green belts and decorated with a group sculpture depicting fairies of Mt. Kumgang.

With a total building area of more than 200x200 studs, the theatre was inaugurated in May 1989, just before the opening of the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang.