RNCM - Bruntwood Theatre

This is the theatre of the Royal Northern College of Music. The main college building, which also houses the Haden Freeman Concert Hall, a studio theatre , a recital room and galleries, is an interesting building of its time and well preserved.

The theatre and concert hall lie side by side at first floor level, sharing a splendid entrance. The foyers at ground and first floor are light and spacious. The theatre seating is arranged in eighteen rows, divided into three blocks on a stepped rake. Sightlines and acoustics are excellent and there is a high standard of comfort. The colour scheme is muted, with brown brick walls; the wood ceiling, representing three waves, conceals sound and lighting positions. The control box is reached from the back of the auditorium by way of a spiral staircase.

The well-equipped proscenium stage has full flying facilities with thirty three sets of counterweight lines with three hemp sets at the rear. There is a forestage lift providing for seventy musicians in an extended orchestra pit, or a forestage or extra rows of seats.

This is a theatre of unusual quality for its date. Extensively used by students, and amateur groups the number of modern or small scale companies now visiting has dropped with the opening of The Lowry as an alternative space.