Bedford School Project

Theatreplan is delighted to hear that the project to renovate and convert the Grade II listed St Luke’s Church into a new 300-seat performing arts centre for Bedford School has been approved by Bedford Borough Council. Theatreplan will be working with lead architect Foster Wilson Architects and acoustician Paul Gillieron Acoustic Design.

The new galleried theatre will be a flat-floored flexible studio space created by inserting a new steel structure within the volume of the existing church. The existing balcony will be retained but extended forward and re-tiered, to provide good sightlines to the stage area. Two levels of new galleries will be inserted at the sides, together with high level suspensions for scenery and stage lighting. The lower gallery will be used for the audience while the upper gallery will provide technical facilities and a control room. A new single storey rear extension will be added to provide foyer and back stage facilities, radiating around the apsidal end of the chancel and opening onto a landscaped garden.

John Whittaker, who is leading the Theatreplan team said, “I am looking forward to working with Tim Foster and his team on this exciting project.”