We are delighted to have been appointed as the
theatre consultant on the major redevelopment project at Glasgow’s historic
Citizens Theatre. Built in 1878, the Grade II listed theatre has seen a number
of small-scale refurbishments and extensions, but the current scheme is the
most comprehensive in its history.
The project has been earmarked for funding
from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Glasgow City Council, Creative Scotland and
Historic Scotland that go a long way towards financing the transformations,
which are far-reaching.
Mathew Smethurst-Evans, who is leading the
Theatreplan team, explained: “This is a major project that incorporates
significant improvements to the environment for both visitors and staff.
Visitors will benefit from much improved public spaces to create a venue where
they can experience much more than a theatre show. There will be purpose-built
learning facilities for community activities and workshops, as well as greatly
improved access throughout the building. The theatre gallery seating will be
replaced to improve sightlines, increase capacity and increase the proportion
of ‘good seats’. This will be a phased project to enable theatre performances
to continue on the site throughout the construction period. This creates
significant technical and operational challenges – our experience on the phased
refurbishment of the Sheffield Crucible will prove invaluable.”
Roger Fox, Theatreplan’s historic buildings
specialist, added, “The Citizens retains examples of wooden stage machinery and
has perhaps the oldest working scenery painting shop in Britain, which has two
large frames for backcloths, raised and lowered by their original Victorian
winches. As a result the redevelopment project will require sensitive
management.”
Theatre staff will also benefit from a
greatly enhanced working environment as Theatreplan will be taking a fresh look
at the requirements of the Citizens as a producing theatre, from get-in to
construction, wardrobe and props through to lighting, sound and video. Other
highlights include a new Studio Theatre to complement the existing theatre and
new learning spaces. The studio will provide an environment to suit new writing
and the staging of productions in more intimate surroundings and alternative
seating formats.
“We are looking forward to the exciting
challenges ahead,” continued Mathew, “and welcome the opportunity to be working
with the theatre team and with Bennetts Associates Architects, with whom we had
a successful collaboration designing the RIBA award-winning Hampstead Theatre
in 2003.”
Dominic Hill, Artistic Director of the
Citizens Theatre commented, “I’m delighted that we’ll be drawing on the the
expertise of Theatreplan to enable us to deliver our vision for a redeveloped
Citizens Theatre which honours and builds upon the remarkable history of this
theatre. We are assembling a team which includes some of the leading experts in
theatre construction and development and I’m looking forward to working with
Theatreplan as we embark on this project to ensure that the Citizens Theatre
remains a vital part of Scotland’s cultural life.”