Charcoalblue
Bronze Supporter
Key Personnel/Contacts
Andy Hayles – Managing Director
Gavin Green – Design Director
Jon Stevens – Creative Director
Jack Tilbury – Projects Director
Chris Spurgeon – Finance Director
Katy Alexander – Practice Manager
Mark Priestley – Senior Consultant
Gavin Owen – Senior Consultant
Gregory Allan - Consultant
Paul Crosbie - Senior Consultant
Adam Crosthwaite - Senior Consultant
Chris Daniel - Consultant
Ben Hanson - Consultant
Sonya Flynn - Consultant
James Thomas - Consultant
Company Address
17 Short Street
Bankside
London
SE1 8LJ
UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7928 0000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7691 0454
Email: studio@charcoalblue.com
Website: www.charcoalblue.com
Business Operating Zone
UK & Europe
Recent Projects
National Theatre Studio, London
Project Budget: Confidential
Anticipated Completion: Spring 2007
Architect: Haworth Tompkins Architects
The National Theatre’s 1960s rehearsal and workshop space is being redeveloped under the guidance of Haworth Tompkins Architects. This unique facility, unparalleled in the UK, will provide a experimental and very private working space for performances to be honed and developed prior to presentation at the National Theatre. The challenge has been to develop a design which blends an empty space devoid of distraction for performers with a safe and comprehensively-equipped working space for technicians.
The Courtyard, RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon
Project Budget: Confidential
Completed: Summer 2006
Architect: Ian Ritchie Architects
Charcoalblue has provided auditorium planning, technical planning, design and specification guidance to the Royal Shakespeare Company in its development of a new 1,000-seat performance space at its base in Stratford-upon-Avon.
We have worked closely with the company's technical and planning staff and with the architect to develop the original design and to design technical systems for the space.
The new theatre will operate alongside the RSC's existing 1600-seat venue for the remainder of 2006, during which time the company will stage all 37 of Shakespeare's plays - the Complete Works Festival.
Current Projects
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon
Project Budget: £100m
Anticipated Completion: 2010
Architect: Bennetts Associates
The Royal Shakespeare Company have appointed Charcoalblue to assist them in the remodelling of their 1932 Grade II* listed theatre. Following the recent opening of the temporary Courtyard Theatre, the existing theatre will be reworked to accommodate a thrust stage auditorium seating around 1,000 people. The aim is to improve the relationship between audiences and actors by bringing them closer together, reducing the distance from the furthest seat from 27 metres to around 15 metres.
Charcoalblue are providing complete design and planning consultancy services for the auditorium, foyers and backstage areas, and will be working closely with the architects and the RSC in the design and integration of technical systems throughout the refurbished theatre.
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
Project Budget: £25.5 million
Anticipated Completion: 2011
Architects: Keith Williams Architects
25 years ago, a 1930s Odeon cinema in Canterbury was converted into the present Marlowe Theatre. The aim of the refurbishment project is to renew the space to provide extra seating capacity, improved public areas, and updated stage facilities to attract a wider range of performing companies than can be housed at present. The development of an educational programme for young people is also an essential part of the scheme.
Charcoalblue has worked hand-in-hand with the client and the architect to help them clarify and develop their vision, and to deliver a building which can accommodate opera, ballet, dance, musicals, pantomime, popular concerts and drama.
CHARCOALBLUE is widely regarded as the most exciting and innovative theatre consultancy in the UK. In 2004 our founders Andy Hayles, Gavin Green, Jon Stevens and Jack Tilbury set out to create something different. Since then we have grown to a total of 21 including our associates, and Charcoalblue is now the largest organisation of its kind working in Britain.
Our clients range from world-famous companies like the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and English National Opera, to regionally-based arts organisations and educational bodies, such as the Theatre Royal in Bath and St Edwards School in Oxford. Our work on buildings like the Young Vic in London, the Theatre Royal in Newcastle and the RSC's Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon has won us awards and enthusiastic reviews from the theatrical and architectural press and, more importantly as far as we are concerned, praise from performers, technicians and audiences.
All our team members have extensive and recent experience of working in the theatre industry around the world, and share a passion for all types of performance. We know what it's like to be at the sharp end, and whenever possible we continue to be actively involved in theatre production so that we remain connected to the world in which we consult. Together we are key members of the Society of Theatre Consultants, the Association of British Theatre Technicians, and the Association of Lighting Designers.
Our approach is based on collaboration and developing user-led projects that meet your needs, rather than imposing a pre-defined solution. Charcoalblue provides detailed design guidance on all aspects of theatre, performance and arts projects. We will tackle anything from a large theatre to a community centre, a gallery to a multi-media centre. Our scope of service can range from preparing the initial feasibility study and assessing user needs and aspirations of a wider community, to the detailed design of a theatre auditorium or the technical fitting out of a stage. We can follow through from developing the correct functional relationships of a building to the detailed design of all aspects of its public, technical and service areas, as well of course as the auditorium itself.
Where appropriate, we will design specialist systems and equipment, tailoring them to your requirements. This could include seating, stage engineering, stagelighting and audiovisual systems. Our team has an in-depth knowledge of the most recent and relevant health and safety standards and accessibility guidelines. We have a wealth of experience in adapting and making the most of existing buildings, as well as creating entirely new ones. Our clients include subsidised arts organisations, local authorities, educational bodies, property developers and the private sector.
Affiliations
ABTT
Society of Theatre Consultants
The Theatres Trust
Association of Lighting Designers
Institute of Electrical Engineers
Institute of Chartered Accountants
'Society for Theatre Research'
Awards
- RIBA National Award 2008 - North Wall Theatre, Oxford, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- RIBA National Award 2008 - Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool, BIQ Architecten
- Civic Trust Special Award for Access 2008 - Roundhouse, John McAslan & Partners
- Civic Trust Award 2008 - Young Vic Theatre, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- Civic Trust Award 2008 - North Wall Theatre, Oxford, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- USITT Merit Awards 2007 - Charcoalblue - Unicorn Theatre
- USITT Merit Awards 2007 - Charcoalblue - Young Vic Theatre
- LEAF Public Building of the Year Award 2007 - Young Vic, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2007 - Special Award for Innovative Theatre Architecture - Young Vic, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- Stirling Prize 2007 Shortlist - Young Vic Theatre, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- RIBA Regional Award 2007 - Young Vic Theatre, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- RIBA London Building of the Year 2007 - Young Vic Theatre, Haworth Tompkins Architects
- RIBA National Award 2007 - The Courtyard Theatre, Ian Richie Architects
- The RSC Courtyard was short listed as one of the UK architectural entries to the Prague Quadrennial in 2007
- RIBA National Award 2007 (for conservation) - Roundhouse, John McAslan & Partners
- BD Architect of the Year 2006 - Roundhouse, John McAslan & Partners
- Stirling Prize 2006 Long list - Unicorn Theatre & Siobhan Davies Dance Centre
- RIBA Arts Building Award 2006 - Unicorn Theatre, Keith Williams Architects
- RIBA Arts Building Award 2006 - Siobhan Davies Dance Centre, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects
- BD Public Building Architect of the Year 2006 - Unicorn, Keith Williams Architects
- RIBA SE Region Award of Merit 2005 - Amnesty International HQ, Witherford Watson Mann Architects
