In two months time, the Metals & Engineering Corporation (MetEC) is set to commence the construction of a new theatre, with 300.5 million Br. This will come after the completion of design work and the demolition of the Ras Theatre.

The demolition of the Ras Theatre, aka Cinema Ras, was commenced a week ago by the MetEC. Sileshi Architects & Engineers Plc, meanwhile, is in the first stage of designing the Theatre.

We are planning to start the construction of the new Theatre in September 2013, Binyam Ali, general manager of the Theatre, told Fortune.

Although the contract for the construction of a new theatre was awarded to the MetEC in 2012, it could not start until the last week. This was because of a dispute with the Government Houses Agency (RHA) over ownership of the Theatre House, according to Binyam.

"The dispute was solved after the Addis Ketema District's Bureau of finance & Economy Development paid the Agency 3.4 million Br in compensation," Binyam informed Fortune.

The Ras Theatre, which was built in 1937, started functioning as a theatre house back in 1979. It has been owned by the Agency ever since.

The Ras Theatre was built on 670Sqm of land in Addis Ketema District, with a single hall capable of accommodating 1,000 to 1,200 people. This will be replaced with an eight to ten-storey building, said Binyam.

"It will have two large theatre halls, which will have a capacity to accommodate 7,500 to 8,000 spectators; three small film halls, with 400 to 500 seat capacity, as well as offices, rehearsal halls, a studio and underground parking."

The new Theatre will sit on 3,000Sqm of land.

The construction costs are covered by the city administration, while the plot of land was availed by Addis Ketema Land Development & Urban Renewal Office. The compensation expense for residents leaving the expansion area is to be covered by the district's Bureau of Finance & Economic Department (BoFED).

It is estimated that the construction of the building will take three years maximum, according to Binyam.

It was not comfortable for work, said Mulu Gebeyehu, deputy general manager of the Addis Abeba Culture & Tourism Bureau, which administers three theatres in the city. These theatres are - Hager Fikir Theatre, Children and Youths Theatre and the Ras Theatre. "This is why the city administration decided to construct a new Theatre at the spot."

There are also three other cinema houses administered by the Bureau.

The MetEC also started the construction of the Addis Abeba Children & Youth's theatre three weeks ago, with 350 million Br.