University Drama Studio (Cambridge)

• Theatre ID
  1592
• Built / Converted
  2004
• Dates of use
  • 2004: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (used for music recitals, drama plus lecture and conference)
• Address
  Fitzwilliam College, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 6DG, England

Details

The Cambridge University Drama Studio opened in June 2004 and was designed by Allies & Morrison Architects to provide for a wide range of events. It is essentially a lecture hall which can also serve for music recitals, academic conferences and a squash court. Dramatic productions are also intended to be accommodated. Allies & Morrison also designed the entrance buildings to the College. The auditorium seats 250 on a single tier of bleacher seating. Both this and the side walls electronically retract to create one large space. There is also an atrium foyer, reception space, backstage facilities, a suite of three music practice rooms and two dressing rooms. The auditorium has no stage, but has a sprung floor for dance. The auditorium was sunk in to the ground to respect the scale of the surrounding Lasdun, Richard MacCormac and van Heyningen & Haward buildings. The final cost was £2.5m but the crisp rectilinear forms and thoughtful detailing make the building look more expensive. Concrete finishes, zinc, timber and machine made bricks are used to create an ensemble worthy of a design award.

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• Events
  • 2004 Use: continuing
  • 2004 Design/Construction:
    • Allies & Morrison - Architect
  • 2004 Design/Construction:
    • Carr & Angier - Consultant: Theatre Consultants
    • Arup Acoustics - Consultant: Acoustic Engineers
  • 2004 Owner/Management: Fitzwilliam College, owners
• Capacities
  • Original: 250
  • Current: 250
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed