Norwich Theatre Playhouse unveils £5m revamp plans

Norwich Theatre Playhouse has unveiled its £5 million redevelopment plans, which had been stalled since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 300-seat venue, sibling to Norwich Theatre Royal and Norwich Theatre Stage Two, will enjoy improved backstage facilities and increased indoor space under the revamp.

The announcement builds on a scheduled makeover for the theatre first announced months before the Covid-19 outbreak. The original redevelopment was planned to follow a record-breaking year at the Norwich Theatre box office, with 433,000 tickets sold across 722 performances from 2018-2019.

But the original plans, which were to be led by architect Cathy Hawley, were put on hold due to the pandemic.

Fresh ambition to embark on the redevelopment comes as Norwich Playhouse celebrates its 28th anniversary as a theatre this year. The building, which dates back to the late 19th century, served historically as a malt house.

Construction at the site will prioritise increasing sustainability and accessibility at the theatre, in the hope of providing venue-wide step-free access.

There will be no amendments to the stage made as part of the work. During the pandemic, funding from the Culture Recovery Fund helped the theatre build a stage extension – to be added for productions as needed.

Speaking to Eastern Daily Press, Stephen Crocker, chief executive and creative director of Norwich Theatre said the organisation is looking to run fundraising initiatives to help realise the plans.

He said: "The project is being drawn up at the moment, and we hope to be able to share more in May next year – including designs and any funding plans. It is likely there will be a public appeal, as we know many people love the Playhouse and want to see it thrive.

"The project is to improve the accessibility and sustainability of Norwich Theatre Playhouse and is exploring innovative ways of powering and heating the building, as well as how to improve the visitor experience, such as step-free access to all areas including the bar, garden, activities and shows."