Hertford Theatre

Date: 2020

A theatre of civic grace, for a decade of unprecedented challenge.

Concept (Images and Text): JA Projects and Studio Weave

Plans: Bennetts Associates

Good theatre echoes society and at its best, society echoes good theatre. This is the sentimental touchstone to which our vision for the New Hertford Theatre ascribes. Our ambition is simple – to provide a theatrical interior which enhances the everyday experience of the people of Hertfordshire and the wider arts community. A theatre that is full of delight and wonder. A theatre that is welcoming and familiar. A theatre to be used as the backdrop to daily drama. A theatre that provides the apparatus to unpack the past, to consider and process our present, and articulate an appropriate future – one built upon the ideals of resilience, inclusion and care.

At the turn of the decade, arts institutions globally face an unprecedented challenge. The emergence of a global pandemic, forcing their temporary closure and threatening their permanent existence, calls for a dramatic rethink in how these spaces are managed, programmed, used, visited and experienced. After a prolonged period of social distancing, it is more important than ever that people of all backgrounds feel as though their civic institutions are accessible to and represent them. This calls for radical thinking in how cultural institutions provide an environment that proactively addresses exclusion and is welcoming of all. The performative arts, whether that be music, film or theatre lead the way in this charge, genuinely expressing and reflecting the tone of our times and the evolving composition of our community. Our collaborative proposal channels this civic ideal of social equity by conceptualising the theatre as three different and distinct typologies commonly associated with towns and cities. 

Reception areas as Civic Square

The genesis of contemporary theatre stems from performance in the public realm. Since the Greek amphitheatres of the past, theatrics have been presented to the public in spaces that are external in feel and robust in design. This is a heritage that continues to this day and nowadays it is common to find performances – whether concerts or film screenings – located in civic squares in the UK and across the globe. Framing the reception areas as an extension of the public realm pays homage to this culture whilst also seamlessly connecting internal and external spaces and activity.

Theatre areas as Civic Hall

Civic halls, whether situated in large, private, manor houses or town halls, are spaces of public exhibition. They are grand spaces that make an impression upon entrance and provide the stage set for ceremonial drama – dinners, dances, weddings and debates. These civic halls are places where stories are told and the morals of the day debated. Framing the Theatre spaces as civic halls pays homage to this culture whilst ensuring that the action contained is magnified and enriched.

Rehearsal Areas as Civic Lounge

Civic lounges, such as those found in private member clubs or galleries, are spaces where more informal and discreet conversations take place. They are beautifully modest spaces whose exclusivity provides a safe space in which to think, create and connect. Civic Lounges are places where plans are conceived and practiced before being presented to the world. Framing the rehearsal spaces as civic lounges pays homage to this culture whilst ensuring members – actors, producers and technicians – are always comfortable and inspired.