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VENUE 053


Brown to create the performance spaces within challenging structural parameters and with stakeholder concerns at heart. By carrying out study tours, the Charcoalblue team, led by Design Director Gavin Green, concluded that The Core should echo something from the West End, citing The Old Vic Theatre, specifically, as suitable inspira- tion. As Gavin explained, the need for flexibility was paramount: “One of the challenges was the space needed to be able to do flat floor. Flat floor and proscenium, and a more open-end stage. So we developed this concept of a jewel box auditorium, embracing a stage, but hidden into that is this level of flexibility, where you can remove the bulk of the stall seating.” The room is a three tiered, Victorian-style theatre, complete with classic horseshoe balconies, which instils drama and tension through a real sense of intimacy. The main stage sits two floors below ground


level, which could easily have presented load-in issues, had it not been for an under croft at the back of the site, which Charcoalblue utilised as an access point. Two full-size trucks can simultaneously un- load into the theatre at any given time, prompting The Core’s Creative Director, Chris Sudworth, to label it the best load-in he has ever had the pleasure of using. The main stage’s basement location means the over-stage structure supports a fully occupied building, determining that space is at a premium and forcing Charcoalblue to get creative with designing the provision of live flying to the stage. Keen to eliminate the manual han- dling risks associated with counterweight flying systems, Charcoal- blue designed a reduced-height fly tower populated with a bespoke, powered flying system from Centre Stage Engineering. Talking about specifying the technology elements of the theatre,


Image © Tim Crocker


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