Britten Opera Theatre

Theatre ID
3086
Built / Converted
1986
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre (Opera House within music college)
Address
Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, Westminster, London, SW7 2BS, England
Website
- http://www.rcm.ac.uk

Details

The Britten Opera Theatre was constructed in the West courtyard of the Royal College of Music behind the 1892 Blomfield building. Structurally and acoustically separate, much of the accommodation is below ground and there is a two level garden terrace over the main auditorium. The cosy, horse-shoe shaped auditorium is on four levels and Juliet balconies are found at dress and upper circle levels. The balcony fronts are fluted with the stalls circle fronts enfolding the stalls in a very intimate manner. The main criteria for this development was to provide training for singers and orchestral players, and the facilities are designed to replicate a professional theatre. The orchestra pit, for 80 players, is on an hydraulic lift which can form an extended forestage to provide greater flexibility of production. The stage has a structural proscenium opening and is covered by the fly tower and a grid of 32 lines. There is also a paint frame as well as workshop, prop store and scene dock with a link to the dressing rooms which remain in the old building. The foyer was designed to double as a rehearsal space and is on two main levels.

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Stage and auditorium wall of the Britten Opera House
© The Theatres Trust