Stephen Joseph Theatre

The Stephen Joseph Theatre was created within the shell of the Grade II listed modernist Odeon of 1936. To some the demolition of much of what was a complete Odeon interior was vandalism; to others the creation of a theatre in-the-round together with an end stage studio theatre was an exciting use for a redundant cinema.

The development phases included demolishing the front circle to allow for the creation of a full height atrium between the end stage and the round spaces; the establishment of a new studio/cinema in the area previously occupied by the rear circle seating and the refurbishment of the public areas. Major works were required to build the in-the-round space. The concept was to develop a new stage lift which could carry full stage trucks down to the workshops, rehearsal rooms and storage levels. This involved excavations for 6m x 6m stage and the slip stage store to the order of 2,500 tons of soil, taking the basement level down some 10m.

Seating arrangement for the in-the-round auditorium was designed to have great flexibility, partly because of the possibility of ‘parking’ the stage at various levels. The seating in the McCarthy Studio is more traditional.

The Stephen Joseph Theatre is an important addition to the stock of modern British theatres and especially theatres in-the-round.