Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

• Location: London, UK

Thomas Killigrew built the first theatre on the Drury Lane site in1663. After this was destroyed by fire in 1672 Killigrew built a second theatre which operated for 117 years. RB Sheridan replaced this with a larger theatre to seat 3,600 people which featured the world’s first safety curtain but was still destroyed by fire in 1809. The fourth and current building designed by Wyatt opened in 1812, seating 3,060 and was the first British theatre to be gaslit throughout. This period saw the distinctive portico and colonnade added.

The project returns the Grade I listed theatre back to its Georgian glory and to modernise and expand the building’s technical and public offering, all the while respecting and enhancing the building’s listing.

The technical offering is being enhanced in the stage house through the introduction of a non-raked modular stage, strengthening to stage trusses, new safety curtain and counterweight system and travelling beams, and improved technical galleries and grid.

Within the Auditorium widespread and flexible sound, lighting, AV, and rigging infrastructure is sensitively installed through decorative fibrous plasterwork.

The public offering is improved by restoring the intimacy of the auditorium by re-profiling the balconies, the clever re-arrangement of boxes, and providing new seats with better sightlines.

The Georgian era Benjamin Dean Wyatt design front of house spaces are being restored and access improved into and within the building, including new level access doors, ramps, and a 16 person lift to all floors. To tackle bathroom waiting times the number of female WCs is increased to 55, one of the highest provisions in the West End.

Taking advantage of these fantastic new improvements the front-of-house facilities will be open to the public all day and will include new bars and a restaurant, in order to make the Lane site “a destination venue in its own right”.

Service Type:-
Strategic Advice, Procurement Advice, Project Management, Lead Consultant

Client:-
LW Theatres