Restoration planning started just two years ago, and the first phase - the replacement of audience seating - was successfully completed on time at the end of August. Working with local architects Simpson and Brown as well as with Tim Foster Architects and John Muir, Theatreplan's Clive Odom explained that the first phase of the work has focused on the auditorium and orchestra pit: "The seating in the stalls, and the Grand Tier, has been replaced with a design that is authentic to the period of the auditorium and most importantly, is comfortable. The theatre has been running a scheme for people to sponsor a seat, and each one has a space for an engraved plaque commemorating a person or an event."
The refurbishment of the auditorium has also been partly funded through audience participation. In addition to the seat-sponsoring scheme, the theatre has been charging a levy of £1 on each ticket purchased over the past year, with the fund - now approaching £400,000 - going towards the new seating. Part of the overall scheme to replace the seats included alterations to the auditorium rake to accommodate a plenum beneath for a future air conditioning installation (air vents are provided for most seats in the stalls), and also to improve sightlines when the stage floor is eventually levelled during a later phase of the work. And in reformulating the stalls seating, the centre aisle was omitted to offer a greater number of 'best seats in the house'.
For disabled access, the new auditorium offers more than the required minimum number of removable seats along the back row of the stalls, plus a number of transfer seats for those who prefer to sit in one of the theatre's new seats during a performance rather than in their wheelchair.
The renovation programme also allowed the opportunity to rebuild the demountable parts of the orchestra pit. To simplify the process of enlarging the orchestra pit when required, Theatreplan redesigned the original pit infill area with custom-made Steeldeck units. The existing orchestra pit rail was in a poor state prior to the renovation: the new reproduction balustrade, which was designed around Steeldeck 'Wedgeloc', provides a safe and compliant orchestra rail that is quick to install and can be easily adjusted to accommodate each of the three possible orchestra pit sizes.
(Lee Baldock)
