Revisiting a Landmark Project, the Royal Centre, Nottingham

May 22, 2007

Almost thirty years after Nottingham's Theatre Royal reopened to the public following extensive refurbishment work and twenty five years since the Royal Concert Hall was unveiled, Theatre Projects Consultants is providing theatre consulting services to the Royal Centre Nottingham again. The project is a particularly significant one for Theatre Projects as the Royal Centre was one of the company's original consulting projects and helped to establish Theatre Projects' reputation as one of the world's leading theatre consulting firms.

Photo Courtesy of The Royal Centre

The Royal Centre, a celebrated Nottingham landmark and one of the best touring venues in the UK, is currently undertaking a strategic review which will examine ways of future-proofing the building for the next twenty five years. James Ashworth, Managing Director at the Royal Centre, explains: "Theatre Projects were the natural choice for the job with their intimate knowledge of the building, having helped us conceive it during the 1970s and 80s. With a vast portfolio of experience and an unparalleled reputation for excellence, we believed they would assist us in ensuring the Royal Centre continues to be one of the country's finest facilities for the next twenty five years."

Theatre Royal
Originally built in 1865 and remodelled in 1897 by Frank Matcham, the Theatre Royal was one of the most luxurious theatres of its day. However, by the late 1960s it had fallen into a state of disrepair and it had a reputation for discomfort among performers and audiences. Nottingham city Council bought the theatre in 1969 and decided to undertake a major remodelling to restore the theatre to its former glory. Theatre Projects formed an integral part of the design team for the renovation and reconstruction of the theatre, which effectively created a new 1,186-seat theatre within the existing shell.

The renovation and reconstruction of the historic theatre included a new stage house, backstage and front-of-house. This renovation was also a seminal experience in TPC's development in understanding the design of performance spaces in which energy passes between the actor and audience. It was this theatre that triggered the realization that there was an alternate to the fan-shaped auditorium; the three encircling balconies wrap tightly around the room, ensuring that the audience are keenly aware of each other and the performer in their midst. This realization opened the way to a new appreciation of classic principles of theatre design: intimacy and 'papering the walls with people'.

In 1978 the Theatre Royal reopened to the public, boasting improved public front of house facilities, a beautifully restored auditorium in Victorian style green and gilt décor, as well as a full and comprehensive upgrade on backstage and technical theatre facilities. The Theatre Royal is now regarded as one of the best touring venues in the country, attracting major touring dramas, opera, ballet, West End musicals and an annual pantomime.

Royal Concert Hall
The second phase of works undertaken at the Royal Centre by Theatre Projects during the 1970s and 80s was the construction of a new concert hall, adjoining the refurbished Theatre Royal. The Royal Concert hall was built on the site of the Empire Theatre of Varieties, which had opened alongside the Theatre Royal in 1898 but was demolished in 1969 following its closure eleven years earlier.

Work on the new state-of-the-art concert hall began in 1980 and was completed in 1982. The result was a lively complex with striking architecture and a 2,249-seat hall, incorporating a flexible platform with optional wing space, full suspension, and highly complex and versatile lighting and sound systems without acoustic compromise.

The Royal Concert Hall is one of the most popular concert venues on the worldwide touring circuit, regularly attracting world-class orchestras, rock bands, dance acts and solo artists. The hall mainly stages classical and popular music concerts, but can also accommodate conferences, films, trade shows and new product launches. Emphasis has been placed upon the use of light to completely change the feeling of the hall depending on the event taking place.

The strategic review currently being undertaken by Theatre Projects Consultants for the Royal Centre is scheduled to be completed in July 2007, when the centre will begin to implement its new strategy for the foreseeable future. It comes at a particularly poignant time for Theatre Projects, who are currently celebrating 50 years of consulting work around the world. The project provides a unique opportunity to revisit one of the company's landmark projects with a view to the future. It also emphasises the importance of sustainability in a performance venue where the needs and requirements of both performer and public are constantly changing over time.