Each member of the team has a strong background in the theatre. Hayles was previously chief electrician at Richmond Theatre Royal. Stevens has worked at the RSC in Stratford, toured with Opera North and was head of sound at Glyndebourne Opera. He still does lighting design when he gets a chance - most recently The Makropulos Case at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. Tilbury began his career as a theatre production manager, and went on to project manage for Imagination at the Millennium Dome. "We're all committed to continuing to work in theatre and live events whenever we can: the only way to really understand the problems theatres face is to work in them," notes Stevens.
In September, the team will be completed with the arrival of architect and auditorium design specialist Gavin Green, another ex-employee of TPC. Green's entire career has been spent designing performing arts buildings, giving him an insight into the particular problems they present. Green commented: "Deciding to leave wasn't easy, but it's been very amicable and we've kept a close relationship with Theatre Projects."
That relationship has formed the beginning of Charcoalblue's impressive portfolio of work. The refurbishments of the Camden Roundhouse and the Young Vic Theatre were masterminded by Charcoalblue's members while they were still working for Theatre Projects, and are now being completed under Charcoalblue's watchful eye, as is the new £12.5m Unicorn Children's Theatre in Tooley Street, London. The company's choice of location, on London's Bankside, reflects its desire to be part of the emerging theatre scene south of the river. Tilbury explains: "Since we moved here we've won three more jobs, all within walking distance of the studio!"
In just its first six months of operation, Charcoalblue has won contracts with the Royal National Theatre, the English National Opera, Bristol Old Vic Theatre, the Siobhan Davies Dance Company, the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield and the Northcott Theatre in Exeter.
Charcoalbue give the impression of being a team who have come a long way and who are intending to go a lot further. Their drive and commitment, coupled with their youth and energy ("We reckon there are six theatre consultants in the UK under the age of 40," says Hayles. "And we're four of them!") clearly makes them a force to be reckoned with.
Sarah Rushton-Read
