Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre Building Images, Stratford Architecture News, Photos
RSC Theatre Building, Stratford-upon-Avon
English Theatre Building in Warwickshire design by Ian Ritchie Architects, England, UK
post updated 4 Dec 2020 ; 23 Nov 2017
Design: Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd
Location: 22 Southern Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BH, England
The Royal Shakespeare Company Courtyard Theatre – The Other Place
Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre – TOP
The Other Place (TOP) at the RSC in Stratford upon Avon began in the 1970s as a small new writing studio theatre in a tin shed. It was rebuilt as a brick building in the 1980s and in 2005 Ian Ritchie Architects designed the temporary 1040 seat Courtyard Theatre adjacent to the brick “TOP”.
Entrance:
photo © Stewart Hemley
It was enclosed by folded Corten steel with an internal clear-span steel structure. It was the RSC’s main theatre until the transformed RST was reopened in 2011. The reuse and adaptation of the 11,300m3 of Courtyard Theatre space was a challenging volumetric exercise.
Foyer with conversation booths:
photo © iRAL
To compose and organise a multitude of spaces, each technically specific, demanded at each stage rigorous analysis of acoustics, public / private routes, fire controls and escapes while seeking a harmony and thrill of a new spatial composition.
Foyer from level 1:
photo © Stewart Hemley
New uses within the now iconic enclosure were introduced over five floors and now house a 200 seat adaptable studio theatre, two rehearsal rooms (theatre, music and TV studio quality), a centralised home across three floors for the RSC’s costume department and costume archives, video department, break-out spaces and ‘get-in’ dock and store. One key design consideration was to open the building up to the public – for performances, for public tours including costume store, and the hosting of community and corporate events.
Studio Theatre being set up :
photo © Stewart Hemley
The former ‘The Other Place’ was renovated and adapted over two floors to provide entry / circulation space, box office, café-bar, exhibition, break-out spaces and toilets. A new naturally lit vertical core within the adapted courtyard steel box includes a translucent polycarbonate lined double lift shaft providing access between ground and upper levels.
Foyer:
photo © Stewart Hemley
photo © Stewart Hemley
photo © Stewart Hemley
Rooflights and new windows were cut into the Corten envelope to provide natural light and highlight new dramatic spaces. Services are largely exposed, which optimises available headroom, eases maintenance and adaptability, and contributes to the intentionally busy and slightly rough edged “back of house” designed atmosphere of this vibrant collection of theatre spaces. At a construction cost of £7m, it reopened as the new TOP in 2016.
Foyer from Front Desk:
photo © Stewart Hemley
Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre – Building Information
Client: Royal Shakespeare Company
Architect: Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd
Gross Floor area: 5450m2 (GIA)
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Status: Completed – Feb 2016
Project start date: 2014-15
Cost: £7m
Vertical Core:
photo © Stewart Hemley
Collaborators:
Contractor: BAM Construction
Project Manager: Harper Tackley Consultants
Structural, Services and Fire Engineer: WSP
Acoustic Consultant: Gillieron Scott Acoustic Design
Cost Consultant: Gardiner & Theobald
Lighting Consultant: EQ2 Light and RSC
Theatre Consultants: Charcoalblue & Tom Piper
Access Consultant: David Bonnett Associates
photo © iRAL
Awards:
IStructE Midlands Counties Regional Awards Arts or Entertainment Structures Award: Winner (2016)
Studio Theatre – photo © iRAL
Ground Level Rehearsal Room – photo © iRAL
Performance Space – photo © Stewart Hemley
Seminar break-out space – photo © Stewart Hemley
30 Nov 1999
RSC Courtyard Theatre
photographs from Ian Ritchie Architects 2007
Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre design : Ian Ritchie
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, England, UK
English Architecture
English Architecture Design – chronological list
Plymouth Theatre building, south west England
Stratford-upon-Avon Bridge
Design: Ian Ritchie Architects
picture from architect
Stratford-upon-Avon Bridge
Royal Shakespeare Theatre – redevelopment, Stratford-upon-Avon
Design: Bennetts Associates
photo : Stewart Hemley
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Bluebell Views Student Residences, University of Warwick
Date built: 2009-
Design: Page\Park Architects
image from architect
University of Warwick Student Residences
Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre design : Ian Ritchie Architects
Comments / photos for the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre building design Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd page welcome