Burrell Foley Fischer LLP have been the Almeida’s architects from 1982, shortly after its inception as a theatre in 1980, working with successive generations of Directors. The Theatre has been developed into a venue of exceptional quality for the performance of drama, opera and music, and for other related arts activities.
Despite its modest size, the space works equally well for performances on an epic scale as for intimate productions. The audience occupies the same space as the performers and neither is further than twelve metres from the other.
Development works have included extending the backstage accommodation, the building of completely new foyer, bar and technical areas, new services installations and seating, and improved disabled access and acoustics. The new foyer continues the theme of the former open-air yard where, because of limited site access, the single entrance is used as the foyer for the theatre-goers and as the space for the technical get-ins.
The extensive overhaul of the auditorium, seating capacity 321, has preserved the special ‘found’ quality of the Theatre. It was awarded a Civic Trust Award 2004.
Robin Fischer the lighting technician at the Almeida has created this short film showing the development of the theatre.