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National Theatre Studio

The Ustinov Theatre is one of three theatres which comprise the Theatre Royal Bath, the other two being the Main House and the Egg Theatre for children, young people and their families (completed by Haworth Tompkins in 2005).

Refurbishment of an existing studio theatre

Bath, UK		 The existing Ustinov Theatre has been transformed to create a flexible and technically sophisticated studio, adaptable for both spoken and musical performance.

Working within a tight budget, the aim was to develop an architectural language that reflects the experimental nature of the studio's work.

The project consisted of an almost complete re-design of the existing auditorium, technical and back of house facilities as well as front of house spaces.		 The theatre has been entirely reconfigured, improving sightlines, and enhancing the experience of the space for both audience member and performer.

The existing technical gantries were removed to expose the full height of the space and allowing the construction of a three-row gallery, creating a 150-seat auditorium with an intimate atmosphere.

A section of the first floor slab was lowered to create a stage riser and storage area for seating, giving flexibility for a foreshortened stage for musical performance and additional seating. The theatre is fully accessible for both audience and performers. 		Performances in the Ustinov theatre are largely by touring companies. The addition of a wings area and a 'get-round' (to enable entrances from both sides of the stage) has allowed a greater degree of adaptability to a range of requirements. Simple aspects like improved circulation and way-finding signage to the dressing rooms also benefit performers using the space for the first time.

Motorized lighting bars were fitted to provide flexible stage lighting, and a fully-equipped control room was constructed at the back of the stalls. An early decision was taken to re-use as much as possible of the building fabric and services installations in the existing space. A large portion of the technical and backstage equipment and some light fittings were therefore retained.		 A key element of the brief was an improved public entrance and street presence for the Ustinov Studio. The main doorway was relocated and emphasised by new signage and large sliding shutter. Inside, the foyer area - located at ground level under the auditorium - was extensively remodeled to separate backstage and front of house areas. It has now become an open and dynamic space, rather than a corridor. Existing walls were stripped out, while concrete columns were revealed and needle-gunned. At the back of the foyer, the stone wall was exposed and a new timber stair to the auditorium constructed alongside it. Above this, the existing rooflight has been refurbished and allows natural light down into the foyer. Materials for the Ustinov Studio are simple, stripped-back and hard wearing.

The 'black box' auditorium was given character with a warm tweed seating fabric, handrails and some lighting bars have a rusted, beeswaxed finish, the flooring is reconstituted black rubber, while balustrades are natural finish expamet and the balcony resters are sheathed in black rubber radiator hose. 		Foyer materials juxtapose black resin flooring and black-painted joinery with exposed white aggregate blockwork and a gloss white ceiling.

The high-level bar top of expamet encased in red, under-lit resin strongly announces itself among these finishes and provides a warm, hearth-like focus to the foyer.

Areas of deep plum wall enrich the space, while gold signage and revealed Bath stone play off against needle-gunned concrete and exposed blockwork.		 The choice of materials and assemblies establishes a sibling relationship between the Ustinov and the adjacent Egg theatres (the Ustinov being the more grown up), linking the spaces visually as well as physically.

Ustinov Studio
Client: Theatre Royal, Bath
Value: £1.025m
Completion: February 2008
Photography: Philip Vile

Exposed Concrete
Exposed White Aggregate Blockwork
Black Painted Plywood
Black Resin
Reconstituted Rubber Flooring
Exposed Bath Stone
Rusted/waxed and painted metalwork