Hall for Cornwall has reopened after Burrell Foley Fischer’s multi-million pound refurbishment and remodelling of the Grade II* listed buildings. The project increases the theatre’s audience capacity and provides a more intimate atmosphere, with improved sightlines and acoustics, whilst conserving and restoring important heritage elements and bringing them into better use. Increased access to Arts and Culture for the community of Cornwall will result, together with the facilities required to support a sustainable business model for the organisation.
The new auditorium, named Cornwall Playhouse or Gwariji Kernow in Cornish, is a beautiful, open space on three tiered-levels enabling the organisation to deliver their artistic vision and providing a new dynamic relationship between performer and audience. Originally a wide, arena-style space (good for rock but hopeless for drama), Burrell Foley Fischer have introduced circle and balcony levels and narrowed the width with new slip seats. Movable shutters allow the acoustic and atmosphere to be varied for drama, classical music, comedy and rock and pop gigs. There are 635 seats in the Stalls, including 11 wheelchair positions, plus 35 standing positions, 294 seats in the Circle, including 2 wheelchair positions, plus 48 rester and standing positions, and 325 seats in the Balcony plus 16 rester positions.
“brilliantly reimagined”
Sir Tim Rice
A brand new front entrance on Boscawen Street, leading into an Ope that runs through the building to Lemon Quay, reveals the beauty of the original granite walls and gives everyone who comes inside the chance to get behind-the-scenes glimpses into the daytime workings of the auditorium. The refurbished venue also provides a warmer welcome and improved audience experience, including new cafés and bar areas on both sides of the building and a space to change facility.
The buildings will also house Husa (meaning ‘to create an illusion or dream’ in Cornish), a new venture, combining co-working space and the venue’s artist development programmes, to nurture and support Cornish performance artists and the creative industries.
“I’ve spent years touring theatre all around the UK and this is genuinely one of the most thrilling theatrical auditoria in the country. The way that the auditorium wraps around the stage makes it feel like it’s a theatre that has been designed for an audience, and those are the best kind of theatres.”
Jason Grieve, Director of Fisherman’s Friends Musical
The debut show to tread the boards was the World Premiere of Fishermen’s Friends: the Musical, a brand-new production based on the true story of Cornwall's favourite singing sea-shanty sensations and the smash-hit 2019 Universal Pictures film.
