The Playhouse Theatre Refurbishment   May - July 2008

On Monday 28 April, the first stage of our five-year improvement plan to refurbish the theatre began.

The Playhouse appointed Glyn Mellor, an architect with a wide experience of theatre and cinema design, to produce the plans which will transform the venue. This involves installing a considerably new heightened rake

(the sloping/stepped nature of the floor) to significantly improve visibility throughout the theatre. The height at the rear of the auditorium will be sufficient to enable the creation of a corridor underneath the seating, thereby allowing patrons to enter the lounge bar from the foyer.

There will be new sound and lighting boxes; new doors, which will help deaden the sound of Bath Road traffic; new carpeting throughout auditorium, lounge bar and dressing rooms; new house lights; and, most importantly, brand new seating! The auditorium will also be redecorated.

This part of the refurbishment will cost in the region of £250,000 and we are hopeful that it may be possible to undertake some additional work in other parts of the theatre, time permitting and subject to planning consents.

The diary below will keep you informed of the exciting changes to the theatre as they take place.