The Street Theatre

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The Street Theatre

ConForm were asked by a Local Authority to investigate the possibility of taking a vacant retail unit and transforming this into a Theatre or Performance Space. They had initially envisaged that this would be a temporary set up intended to be in place for around 5 years.

We analysed and iterated proposals and quickly realised that this generic space could offer a lot more than the original brief. The scheme developed, proposes a 225-seat performance space with associated dressing, storage and technical spaces along with a foyer and bar. The space is also flexible and can be laid out in several configurations: a courtyard theatre arrangement, cabaret and conference/event set up.

The design concept was to make the theatre a venue, with the creation of an ‘urban filter’ with three distinct and purposeful zones. First is the Foyer; a continuation of the street and a social zone with external materiality, lighting and planting continuing from outside to in. Secondly, the threshold; which acts a filter between street and performance, separating their quite different requirements and celebrating the passage between one and the other. Lastly one enters the performance space; vaulted for a sense of scale and drama and refined technically, to ensure performances are of the highest quality. These three conditions transform the retail unit into a purposeful, attractive and considered performance venue to be used by local groups and the wider community.


Client

Local Authority

Status

Feasibility

Location

Confidential