Volume 2

" Young people today always say the same thing; the smaller the theatre the more they feel part of the experience "

Following the keynote address by Don MacLean of Cirque du Soleil, international theatre consultant and lighting designer Richard Pilbrow sets the scene by presenting a brief review of the development of the auditorium over the years. He is joined by theatre architects and by a theatre critic who continue the story through many other examples. This fully-illustrated chapter fills in the background story, and is followed by consideration of what can be done with our older theatre stock. Managers and technical users talk about their venues, and other theatre architects, including Bryan Avery and Steve Tompkins give their views, along with international theatre consultants on their role in the process of creating or refurbishing performance spaces. As a balance to this, two directors and a designer express their feelings about venues in which they have worked. The unique work of the Theatre Planning Committee of the Association of British Theatre Technicians is described, and an analysis presented by users, architects and consultants of various approaches followed on a number of different multi-purpose and multi-form theatres. In conclusion, the effect of star-architects on buildings for the performing arts is examined in terms of both cost and effect.