The Ark Theatre

The Ark Theatre is located on the grounds of the Hertswood Academy (formally Hertswood School), a secondary school established in 2000 by an amalgamation of five former local schools. Shortly after, the school gained specialist status as an Arts College and it initiated planning to develop a school theatre.

The Ark Theatre is the result of the expansion and refurbishment of the school’s former hall and was redeveloped as a joint community and school theatre, opening in 2009.

The building is clad with terracotta tiles and has a double height lightweight exposed steel and glass foyer at its western end, with a feature glass awning and staircase enclosed within an extended glass box. The large foyer, with separate school and theatre entrances, contains a box office, cloak room and lift, and links the auditorium with school offices and the school canteen, which doubles as a bar for out of school hour performances.

Access into the auditorium is via two ground level aisles on either side of the hall, or via the staircase to the first level. The theatre seats 250 people and the seats are arranged in a single tier of 15 rows with a single central aisle. The audience enter from the side at ground level and walk toward the stage before walking up the central aisle to their seats, or directly enter the central aisle from the first level at the rear of the auditorium. There is also a raised corridor approximately 1m above ground level running along the northern wall which is separated from the main hall by pillars. This provides additional access and seating, but with limited sightlines.

The raised stage has a plain rectangular proscenium arch, but no forestage area. It has ample wing space and a large scene dock and workshop to the north, with direct access to a loading bay. The theatre also utilises the adjacent school changing rooms. A fully enclosed control room sits at the rear of the theatre.

Car parking is provided on the south side of the school oval in the adjacent Council car park and a lit pedestrian path provides access to the theatre.