Cerny to be appointed director of National Theatre

Culture Minister Helena Trestikova has decided to appoint theatre critic Ondrej Cerny as the new director of Prague's National Theatre. Mrs Trestikova made the decision based on a recommendation by an expert committee which assessed the proposals of five candidates for the post. Former Culture Minister Martin Stepanek dismissed the previous director Jan Mrzena in September, a move which caused a rift between the theatre's ensembles.