Royal Shakespeare Theatre Renovation
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View from north. The RST's riverside walkway has been reinstated
Peter Cook (website) Download Original
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
Professional Team 
- Architect: Bennetts Associates
- Client: Royal Shakespeare Company
- Construction manager: Mace
- Acoustic engineer: Acoustic Dimensions
- Theatre consultant: Charcoalblue
- Services engineer: Fulcrum Consulting/ WW
- Structural engineer: Fulcrum Consulting/ WW
- Quantity surveyor: Gardiner and Theobald
- Planning supervisor: Gardiner and Theobald