Plans Unveiled For New Everyman

By Colin Serjent (29/5/2010)

"We want to leave a legacy the people of the city can be proud of", commented Artistic Director of the Everyman Theatre Gemma Bodinetz, at the unveiling of the designs of the new building.

The Liverpool Merseyside Theatres Trust (LMTT), which runs the Everyman and the Playhouse theatres, will submit an application for planning approval to Liverpool City Council, describing the new building on Hope Street as "a vibrant creative hub fit for the uniquely cultural city in the 21st century."

Developed and designed in close collaboration with prominent theatre architects Haworh Tompkins, the building will provide new incarnations of the Everyman's 400-seat 'thrust' stage auditorium, legendary basement Bistro and iconic Everyman sign.

These will be complimented by vital facilities it currently lacks, many of which will also serve its sister theatre, the Playhouse. These will include a Youth and Community space for the theatre's important work with education and community groups; rehearsal space, workshops and offices for production staff, and a hub for writers to develop their work.

"The new Everyman takes all that is most loved about the present theatre - a democratic thrust auditorium, a characterful subterranean bistro and reinvigorates them in the context of a theatre fit for future generations of audiences and artists," said Bodinetz.

"When it opens in 2013", remarked Executive Director Deborah Aydon, "the new Everyman will emphasise Liverpool's continued status as a cultural capital and will be a further boost to the city's rebirth as a richly rewarding place to live and to visit."

Designed to be naturally ventilated throughout, the new 'green' theatre incorporates a number of low energy strategies and is on course to achieve an 'Excellent' BREEAM rating for environmental impact.

The building will be constructed of red brick, with a new frontage on Hope Street comprising 105 life-sized, abstracted portraits of Liverpool people transferred onto cut aluminium shutters.

Front of House areas will feature and open and more welcoming street presence, a new pavement cafe, a new theatre bar, as well as the bistro.

The total budget for the redevelopment of the Everyman is £28m. The funding plan includes £15m from Arts Council England and £2.5m invested from Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The rest is being sought from a combination of public sector sources, fundraising and appeals.

The schedule for the new Everyman is for work to begin on site in the spring of 2011 and the new building to open in 2013.

Website: www.everymanplayhouse.com