00:00Plans have been submitted to transform Theatre Royal Wakefield with major
00:05upgrades aimed at securing the future of the historic venue. The proposals
00:09include a new second floor extension, improved accessibility, a new bar, dressing
00:15rooms, a studio and upgraded toilets. The auditorium would also benefit from new
00:21lighting and improved seating with capacity increasing from 493 to 510.
00:27Theatre Trust Chief Executive Katie Towne says the project will preserve the
00:32building's architectural heritage while making it fit for future generations
00:36including reducing its carbon footprint. Built in 1894 as Wakefield Opera House, the
00:43Grade II star listed theatre was designed by renowned architect Frank Matcham and
00:48is his smallest surviving theatre. It was built on the site of an early theatre
00:53dating back to 1776 which was demolished. It closed in 1954 becoming a cinema and
01:00later a bingo hall. The building was bought in 1981 and reopened as a theatre five
01:06years later. A planning statement says a backlog of repairs and conservation work
01:10must be addressed to ensure the venue can continue to thrive. The Trust says the
01:16improvements are intended to meet the needs of modern audiences and creative
01:19teams while encouraging wider participation in the district's cultural life. The proposals
01:24follow extensive consultation with Wakefield Council and Historic England.
01:28Stata Backs
01:28www.safical.ar
01:29www.tomделa.p
