Welcome - Conference 09 - Events

Experiencing Theatres

9 June 2009

Unicorn Theatre, Tooley Street, London SE1 9:00 – 17:00

Make your theatre better for building audiences

Inspired theatres design can help develop, diversify and deliver audiences.

Conference 09, Experiencing Theatres, considered how different approaches to theatre architecture attract and influence audiences in different ways. It looked at how the scale, style, and sensitivity associated with auditoria design, way-finding, facilities and building management make a difference to the atmosphere and energy of a theatre – and how they help make audiences feel welcome and receptive to the live, shared theatre experience.

This day-long conference provided a unique opportunity to look at the principles of designing theatres which meet the needs of modern audiences and support audience development.

David Benedict, theatre critic for Variety, led the day as Conference Chair looking at how to make theatre buildings better for audiences, meet their expectations, and how to incorporate audiences’ views in the design process. The day-long conference also included a focus on opportunities within Building Schools for the Future to engage young audiences in theatres design.

Chairs: David Benedict, Andrew Dickson, Bonnie Greer, John E McGrath

Contributors included

• Rt Hon Barbara Follett MP Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism
• Vikki Heywood Executive Director, Royal Shakespeare Company
• Tom Piper Associate Designer, Royal Shakespeare Company
• Dominic Fraser Production Manager, The Old Vic
• Chris Honer Artistic Director, Manchester Library Theatre Company
• Emma Rice Artistic Director, Kneehigh Theatre
• Christina Seilern Principal, Studio Seilern Architects LLP
• Ruth Eastwood Chief Executive, Leicester Theatre Trust
• Selene Burn Community Engagement Officer, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
• Steve Ball Associate Director, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
• Matt Little Co-Director, Real Ideas Organisation CIC
• Keith Williams Director, Keith Williams Architects
• Adam Kenwright Managing Director, aka
• Morag Myerscough Director, Studio Myerscough
• Leonie Wallace Head of Visitor Services, Wales Millennium Centre
• John Botteley Theatre Director, Grand Opera House, Belfast
• Nicky & Lee Caulfield Save Waltham Forest Theatre
• Colin Blumenau Artistic Director, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds
• Jenny Sealey MBE Artistic Director/CEO, Graeae Theatre,
• Steve Tompkins Director, Haworth Tompkins

The Unicorn was also our venue for the End-to-End Party immediately following the Conference. It was free to delegates and provided an opportunity to relax and unwind and discuss issues arising from the day informally with exhibitors from the ABTT Theatre Show.

Experiencing Theatres was produced by The Theatres Trust
Conference Reporter: Jonathan Meth
Production Manager: Petrus Bertschinger
Development Consultant: Caz Williamson