Theatres and other cultural institutions in Hungary are reeling from exponentially growing energy prices, and many plan to close for the winter to avoid the skyrocketing bills.

The Erkel Theatre in the capital of Budapest will close in November after its utilities went up as much as tenfold, and local governments across the country have ordered theatres, cinemas and museums to shut their doors during the cold months.

Others are cutting costs by staging fewer productions, having fewer rehearsals and dialing down the thermostat.

As winter approaches, cultural leaders say the energy crisis could have negative consequences for the cultural life of Hungarians.