|
News
|
|
|
News |
Dateline: 24th June, 2003 £1.2m Lottery Grant for Nottingham Playhouse Nottingham Playhouse has announced that it has been awarded £1,236,000 from The Heritage Lottery Fund towards a project totalling £1.8 million for its most ambitious revamp since the theatre opened on this site 40 years ago. As a result the theatre can now give the green light to transform the bar and restaurant, using designs sympathetic to award-winning architect Peter Moro's original vision. Stephanie Sirr, the Playhouse's Chief Executive said, "We have long felt that the Playhouse needed a face lift and are delighted that Heritage Lottery Fund has decided to help us. The Playhouse is one of few twentieth century buildings to have listed status. It is therefore of national importance and we need to ensure it continues to look as eye catching and welcoming as the original theatre did in 1963. I would like to thank Sir Harry Djanogly who has contributed generously to our refurbishment, Nottingham City Council and the many Playhouse supporters who responded to our recent fundraising campaign.”
The new look bar and restaurant will include a glass fronted exterior, delicatessen, restaurant, café, bar and lounge areas on the ground floo, plus new public spaces off the lower foyer. Designed to be fully accessible, plans also include improved toilet facilities, illumination of the concrete drum and forecourt and baby changing areas. Lace Market based architects GCMS have been working closely with Nottingham Playhouse together with leading bar and restaurant entrepreneurs Duncan Craig (Scruffy's and Brass Monkey) and Ashley Walter (the award-winning restaurant World Service and Saltwater) making this one of the most ambitious developments in the City this year. The work will take place from August with a view to completion in early November. Sheila Stone, Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Manager for the East Midlands, said, ‘Nottingham Playhouse is one of the finest modern buildings in the city and an important part of our heritage. These developments will make it a more accessible and welcoming place for everyone, encouraging more people to enjoy the building and contributing to the ongoing regeneration of the city centre.’ New seats, based on the original Moro designs, are already in place in the Stalls and Circle seats will be replaced in the spring. The programme of work also includes a new external lighting scheme which will follow through the foyers with new directional internal signage. Reporter: Pete Wood Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
|
|
|