Royal Shakespeare Theatre Renovation

Bennetts Associates, Stratford-upon-Avon, 2010

 

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View from north. The RST's riverside walkway has been reinstated 

Peter Cook (website)     Download Original

  • View from north. The RST    
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  • View from the west. Extensive new glazing provides views in    
  • Glazed entrance betwwen 1932 theatre and new tower, with locally sourced brickwork from the Forest of Arden    
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  • Columns at edges of RST balconies define views as well as reduce the height of the auditorium    
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  • View from retained proscenium in RST auditorium    
  • Restaurant with retained wall of Scott    
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  • The glazed colonnade ecourages the public to pass through the buildings    
  • Triple height space between compressed auditorium and its original wall    
  •     
  • Location plan    
  • Ground floor plan    
  • First floor plan    
  • Second floor plan    
  • Third floor plan    
  • Roof plan    
  • Upper plan of tower    
  • Section    
  • Section    
  • Sectional view through tower    
  • Tower section    
  • Nortrh elevation    
  • East elevation    
  • West elevation    
  • The new Royal Shakespeare Theatre as it will look in July 2010    
  • Original Victorian theatre    
  • Pre 2007 section    
  • Pre 2007 plan    
  • Plan    
  • Render showing how the tower connects to the colonnade and main building.     
  • Visualisation of new auditorium    
  • Sketch plans of transformation of the tower    
  • Existing section    
  • Sketch of tower form    
  • Sketch showing proposed new public space, with the tower balcony interacting with the square below    
  • The tower core    
  • Auditorium steel mock-ups    
  • Steel used in auditorium    
  • Site Brickwork    
  • Tower brickwork mock-ups    
  • Base of the tower under construction    
  • The space between the new and     
  • Workling detail    
  • Section through auditorium seating    
  • Detailed section through tower    

Remodelling of the Royal Shakespeare Company's home in Stratford-upon-Avon to improve the functionality and appeal of the 1932 Grade II* listed building

The project involved the overall rationalisation of the theatre's internal spaces, remodelling of public and back-of house spaces whilst retaining the art deco interiors of the existing foyers. The architects managed to retain the most significant elements and the character of earlier theatres while providing modern useable space.

The heart of the redevelopment was a new 1000-seat thrust-stage to replace Scott's main auditorium.

On the urban side of the building a glazed colonnade allows the two theatres to be connected for the first time and a lift/stair tower forms a 33m high viewing gallery. Together with the existing picture gallery, the tower and the colonnade define a new public square that acts as
athering point and a venue for external performance.

Data

  • Begun: May 2007
  • Completed: Feb 2010
  • Floor area: 11,500m2
  • Sector: Arts and culture
  • Total cost: £112.8M
  • Tender date: Jun 2006
  • Procurement: Construction Management
  • Address: Royal Shakespeare Company, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BB, United Kingdom

Materials

Concrete, Red brick

Professional Team

Suppliers