The setting is perfect - Stunning river walks, elegant facades, buzzing bars, vibrant cafes and restaurants. The only thing missing is the theatre.

But....if everything goes to plan, in Spring 2004, the curtains will rise revealing Kingston's long awaited, much campaigned for, very own, brand new theatre.

For many, the knowledge that there is a new theatre on the way and that it is right next-door to a Wagamama's restaurant is enough to satisfy them but if you want to know more, read on.

Work on the site is well underway. The location is on the High Street, just about opposite the Police Station and the Guild Hall. The exterior design is simple and complementary to the surrounding new development of Charter Quay. Designing the interiors has presented a great opportunity. The building needs to be used day and night. It needs to house traditional and contemporary performances whilst anticipating, encouraging and providing for the performances of the future. It will do this by providing 3 performance spaces including a main auditorium for 1,100 people.

The foyer, which will be used for exhibitions, will house a 100 seat cafe and a small stage for free performances. The idea is to be totally accessible and to encourage people to walk in off the street. The rigging, seating and lighting in the main auditorium have been planned to give great flexibility. The area needs to be able to adapt itself both to traditional theatre and to the future developments in performing arts. There will also be a studio theatre, a secure art gallery and bars on all of the 3 floors.

Though Kingston has lacked a theatre on the scale of Richmond or Woking, it has a number of successful and highly innovative small theatres and theatre groups dotted around the borough. Groups like Horla (Rose&Crown) have blossomed receiving great acclaim for their ground breaking performances. The new theatre will work alongside Kingston's existing theatre groups and local performers through events such as theatre festivals.

The artistic programme will focus upon music theatre, mixed media performances, physical theatre, dance, mainstream theatre with emphasis upon youth theatre and festivals.

(Left: The theatre in October 2001) 

The main theatre reflects the Elizabethan style with its active audience surrounding a promontory stage. The three galleries are all identical in plan and rise to form a drum in which the actor is at the centre. The design facilities the staging, movement and storage of scenery and has been created in such a way that performances can take place with very little scenery. When creative scenery is important to a production, the theatre is lucky to be in close proximity to Kingston University who are world leaders in the techniques of computer projected scenery. The theatre will have a stalls floor which can be raised and lowered to suit a seated or standing audience.

The Studio Theatre will provide 230 seats. It is not anticipated that the studio will be a producing house but will accommodate successful productions created elsewhere in the country.

Exhibitions
In addition to the secure art gallery on the second floor, the foyer is anticipated as being a major exhibition space in the centre of Kingston with constantly changing exhibitions to attract visitors throughout the day.

The Rehearsal Room
This will seat 90 people but apart from rehearsals, it will also be used for small plays, new writing and solo performances.

There is no doubt that the theatre will have a huge positive impact on Kingston. After years of tireless campaigning, Kingston will soon have a focal point for the arts which will be of great benefit to the local and not so local residential and business communities. The interest and support so far has been huge. Celebrities such as Michael Aspel OBE, Felicity Kendal, Richard Briers OBE, Ronnie Corbett OBE, Lynda La Plante and Edward Woodward OBE have all voiced their support. (Right: Theatre in Jan 2002)

For any businesses or individuals who are interested in supporting the new theatre financially, there are lots opportunities in the form of donations, gifts of shares and major naming opportunities. Contact The Guildhall, Kingston upon Thames.

Images from the public launch of the First Theatre of the 21st Century on 21st July 2001(Clockwise from top left: volunteer helpers supporting the launch, street performers from Swamp Circus, local children watching a production, Campaign President David Jacobs CBE DL and Sir Peter Hall Chancellor of Kingston University.