ABSTRACT
This book focuses on new buildings but many theatre projects relate to the modernisation, refurbishment and improvement of existing facilities. Some will be major redevelopments while others will be relatively minor additions or modifications. Theatre buildings have always been subject to change – to keep abreast of fashion; to meet the current needs and expectations of audiences, operators and performers; to introduce new technology; and to increase the operator’s profit. Almost invariably what is seen today reflects a gradual evolution over time. In the days when theatres were lit by candle or gas they were not expected to last. Fire was the great enemy and the average life of a theatre building was less than 20 years. During the second half of the twentieth century, the increasing appreciation of theatre heritage,
combined with the escalation in building costs and the scarcity of good city and town centre sites led people to consider how existing theatres could be adapted to meet modern needs. Since then a considerable body of experience has been accumulated. This section looks at the merits of the existing stock of older buildings and the arguments for and against upgrading them. It outlines the planning and procedural issues and the particular problems that may be encountered when applying the principles described in previous sections. It also considers how these lessons can be applied to adapting other types of buildings for theatre use.
