Mayflower Theatre is ‘Topping Out’, celebrating significant progress on its new rehearsal studio development, a major investment that strengthens its commitment to create inspiring experiences, accessibility and sustainability.
The multi-million-pound development will be across three floors and creates connections between the administration building added in 2010 and the Grade II-listed theatre, creating a dedicated studio for young performers.
The purpose-built rehearsal studio delivers a double-height studio space, two fully accessible dressing rooms and a combined reception and stage door, creating a high-quality environment for both professional touring companies and Mayflower’s extensive Participation and Education Programmes.
“We are proud to ignite passion and creativity in young people. We want to give young people opportunities they never thought possible. We aim to bring them together in a love of theatre and the performing arts.”
Patrick O’Sullivan, Mayflower’s Head of Participation
Mayflower continues to celebrate the success of its Youth Theatre programmes, which has welcomed more than 200,000 young people over the past decade, providing opportunities to perform, build confidence and engage with the arts.
The scale of the project is reflected in the materials used during construction, including 20 tonnes of reinforcement steel, 100 tonnes of structural steel, 42,000 bricks, 30 windows and 68 doors.
Chair and Vice Chair of Mayflower Theatre Trust, Nick Vaughn and Shaun Pantling, joined Mayflower CFO Alison Harrison and COO Matt Goode along with Dave Dimmock from contractor GF Holding to mark the occasion.
Michael Ockwell, Mayflower’s Chief Executive said:
“This development represents a significant improvement in what we can offer performers, participants and visiting companies. The new rehearsal studio provides the kind of high-quality, accessible space that matches Mayflower’s ambition and reputation.
It ensures that young people, performers with disabilities and touring productions all have facilities that meet modern expectations, while supporting our long-term vision for creative growth and sustainability.”
Matthew Goode, Mayflower’s Chief Operations Officer, added:
“Delivering a project of this scale within a live, historic theatre environment is a significant achievement. The volume of materials used reflects the complexity of creating a modern, high-performing building that connects sensitively with our Grade II-listed theatre and existing administration spaces.
This investment future-proofs Mayflower Theatre as we approach our 100th anniversary, supporting our inclusivity agenda and our commitment to decarbonising the building for generations to come.”
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