Following a competitive interview, Ian Ritchie Architects were appointed as Architects by Plymouth Theatre Royal, supported by a design team of Ove Arup and Partners for Structures, Services and Acoustic Engineers, and Davis Langdon and Everest Quantity Surveyors.
The intention of the New Production Centre is to create a Centre of Excellence, providing the facilities and flexibility for the Theatre Royal to maintain its outstanding home productions, for the Main Theatre, Drum, and Pavilions, as well as for associate productions, such as the previous successes of Buddy, Jolson and Oliver. The facility will centralise all the production activities, including the construction of sets, costumes and props, combined with rehearsal and education spaces.
Performers can rehearse and be available for measuring-up and fitting costumes as the set is fabricated. The designers, producers and directors have spaces to work, allowing the whole process of production to be integrated. The New Production Centre will have the spaces to support the simultaneous work of two full productions. The centre will also provide an extraordinary educational facility, giving students dedicated rehearsal, production and discussion spaces, and in turn, the opportunity to witness and be involved with professional productions; to see sets, props, and costumes in manufacture, and to mix with professional performers.
Occupying a prominent waterfront site within the estuary valley of the river Plym, the architectural concept has been developed from complementary themes. Driftwood - a landscape strategy treats the site as a rock beach with veiled building volumes washed there by the tide. Cardboard Theatre - the layering of the building presents a montage of activities within.
Yin and Yang - the two principle activities of manufacture and performance have a rotational symmetry around the communal activity route at mezzanine level.
2003 American Institute of Architects / London Award of Design Excellence
2003 RFAC Trust Building of the Year Award
2003 RIBA Award and Stirling Shortlist
2003 Innovation in Copper Award
2004 Abercrombie Awards: Best New Building & Overall Abercrombie Architectural Design Award
2005 Mies Van der Rohe Prize list