National Theatre of Bahrain

The Ministry of Works and Housing of the Kingdom of Bahrain has commissioned a National Theatre of Bahrain, which will include a main 750-seat auditorium designed for drama, small symphony concerts, conferences, jazz and other amplified music events. The complex will also house a 150-seat flexible studio theatre. The main auditorium will be intimate and has been specifically designed to enhance the actor-audience relationship, a key contributor to the experience of live theatre. The bold design of the auditorium, and its single seating rake, is designed to provide excellent sightlines and to embrace the stage, bringing the audience closer to the performances. Meanwhile, the flexibility of the forestage and proscenium will allow for several different staging options. Designed as a functional flexible space, the studio theatre is more than just a simple 'black-box' and will be used for conferences, drama, rehearsals and ceremonies. It will have a separate identity from the main auditorium, yet will be robust enough to use as a rehearsal room for the main stage. This space will offer different seating and staging configurations, including a simple end-stage or flat floor form. This is achieved using a simple retractable seating unit and a demountable platform system where configurations can be built from a 'kit of parts'. The National Theatre is already being hailed as a landmark project and is scheduled to open in 2012.

Services

Feasibility study, concept design, theatre planning, and theatre equipment design and specification

Owner

Ministry of Works and Housing of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Users

National Theatre of Bahrain, and national and regional groups

Theatre Type(s)

Arts center, Flexible theatre, Multipurpose theatre

Seat Count(s)

750, 150

Construction Type

New construction