Josef Šnejdar during the reopening of the National Theatre after its refurbishment on 18 November 1983 with President Gustáv Husák and Chairman of the Federal Government Lubomír Štrougal. After Lubomír Štrougal's speech, the audience watched Smetana's opera, Libuše. The opening ceremony was also attended by Gustav Husák, the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, who received the lead actors and members of the National Theatre company in the Presidential Lounge during the intermission.