Early designs for a ‘performing arts hub’ with Margate Theatre Royal and neighbouring 19 Hawley Square have now [December 7] gone on display at the historic venue at a drop-in that remains open until 7pm.
The aim is to secure £3.2m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, in addition to the £2.2m allocated from Margate’s Town Deal, to renovate the Grade II* listed theatre and link it to 19 Hawley Square which will be developed into a theatre production space with a bar, café, studio theatre, recording studio and rehearsal rooms.
The Hawley Square venue, which was believed to have historically been The London Hotel, will also have offices and accommodation for touring theatre companies.
Proposals to fund the project also include applying to the Arts Council for the Cultural Development Fund, which will be launched in 2024.
A projected reopening date has been set for May 2027.
Today is also the launch by Thanet council of the search for a new operator, with an invite to register interest in the Theatre Royal’s future.
Three potential operator models are being considered; a commercial venture, an existing theatre company (charitable venture) looking to relocate, or a local consortium (to set up a new trust).
Public consultation over the designs is now also open via a survey on Your Voice Thanet or in paper format.
Initial designs presented by Nick Lee Evans, a Specialist Conservation Architect from Lee Evans Partnership, show an extension to the Addington Street theatre building, widened pavement, reinstated signage and a new box office entrance.
For the five floor building in Hawley Square designs show rehearsal space in the basement; on the ground floor plans show a studio theatre for 50 people, sound studio, green room, bar and coffee area; first floor plan show offices, meeting spaces and a roof garden and, on the two upper floors, accommodation for the theatre companies.
The proposals have been drawn up by working with TDC’s Theatre Royal project manager Hayley White, who was previously involved in the Ellington Park project and the scheme to renovate London’s Hoxton Hall, a Victorian grade II* listed music hall theatre built in 1863.
Nick Lee Evans said: “The initial design, working with Hayley, goes forward with her vision for the heritage lottery bid.
“There will be a development phase but this is testing out the ideas and part of that is to try and use 19 Hawley Square.
“One problem with the theatre is there is not enough bar and backstage space. By using 19 Hawley Square we are trying to create rehearsal space, which is virtually the same size as the [Theatre Royal] stage, and a studio theatre which continues the theatre’s long history of training people. The Theatre Royal had probably the first theatre school in the country under Sarah Thorne in the late 19th Century who used her house in Hawley Square.
“We think 19 Hawley was The London Hotel and had quite a pivotal relationship with the theatre.”
Those responding to the consultation will also be asked for views on a reduction to a single lane and closure with timed bollards in Hawley Square to create a link between the two buildings.
Nick added: “The idea is to make the theatre work as having that [extra] space will mean being able to do more than just have productions landing here, you could initiate them, and make the theatre more viable.”
Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said the initial response to plans for applying to the National Lottery Heritage Fund had been “positive” with an expression of interest accepted.
It means the £3.2m two-phase bid can be made in February next year with a decision on the first phase expected in July. A second round submission would then be made in May 2025 with a decision in September of that year. Works on site would be expected to begin in 2026 up until the projected May 2027 reopening.
Part of the £2m town deal allocation will be used for urgent repairs which are expected to cost £370,000 for minor roof work, removal of the asbestos stage curtain, and fire protection measures and the provision of a proper ventilation system.
Other structure works including; window repairs and decorations, plastering in lime plaster where plaster has failed, and ceiling repairs have been estimated at £400,000.
The discovery earlier this year of a ‘sun burner’ in the ceiling of the theatre means a masterplan will need to be drawn up to examine how the historic building will be ventilated.
Cllr Duckworth [pictured] said: “ Having the town deal money means we can apply for match funding and that opens up so much more opportunity. We need 19 Hawley Square to make it work as it is a small theatre. Having the expression of interest accepted [by the National Lottery Heritage Fund] means we can now make a full application which is positive. Being a Grade II* listed building makes them much more interested.
“19 Hawley Square is a bit of a state. It is listed but it was previously converted to flats which means we have to keep the outside but the inside has a lot more scope.”
Cllr Duckworth said it is important for people to get involved and give their views before the deadline at 4pm on December 20.
She added: “We are very keen to hear from people. This is the right time to be doing this.”
The Theatre Royal Margate is the UK’s second oldest working theatre. It was originally designed and built in 1787, then significantly altered in 1874 by J.T. Robinson, father-in-law to Frank Matcham, celebrated theatre architect. It is one of only two surviving Robinson theatres; the second is The Old Vic Theatre in London, whose auditorium has undergone significant alterations. The Theatre Royal Margate was listed in 1955.
It was added to the Theatres Trust Theatres at Risk register in 2018. In April this year Thanet council was awarded £10,000 of grant funding from the Theatres Trust towards the Margate Theatre Royal project.
The funding, from the Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities project, is in recognition of Theatre Royal’s heritage and ‘at risk’ status.
Hayley White [pictured] says although the process for the renovation and hub project is lengthy it is necessary to make sure there is a sustainable maintenance and conservation plan.
The process would involve funding bids, hiring a design team including access consultants and interpretation specialists, further investigations on conserving and restoring the sun burner and going through RIBA stages.
She said: “It’s really robust but it helps you manage the resources and design a project so it can be delivered.”
She added: “This building [theatre] is beautiful and really important but it has so many restrictions. 19 Hawley Square will be the financial and creative engine for what happens here. It is very much a working building bringing together the idea of the performing arts hub.”
Discussions have taken place with ARK in Cliftonville, based at the former shul, about working with the Theatre Royal operator and there will also be a focus on opportunities for young people.
Plans for use include creating Margate/ Thanet employment, engagement and training of young people in performing arts and creative careers; programming to provide a unique heritage stage for local, national and international performances and multi arts and using homegrown talent and locally made high quality theatre productions with national and international reach.
Give your view
Information boards are on display in poster sites on the exterior of the Theatre Royal in addition to today’s drop-in.
You can collect a paper survey from reception at the council offices in Cecil Square, Margate between Friday 8 and Wednesday 20 December, between 10am and 4pm or go to Your Voice Thanet. The survey closes at 4pm on Wednesday 20 December.
Further details can also be found at https://www.thanet.gov.uk/info-pages/theatre-royal/
The road to renovation
The Theatre was bought by Thanet council as ‘owner of last resort’ in 2007. The building was shut for a six month refurb programme and all staff were made redundant. It was then leased back to the Margate Theatre Royal Trust on a peppercorn rent until 2012 when the Trust went into administration.
Thanet council initially bought 19 Hawley Square from Orbit Housing in 2011 with a view to expanding the Theatre’s facilities.
In 2014 Thanet council offered a long lease or freehold interest in the theatre, and buildings at 16a and 19 Hawley Square and there was an expression of interest from Soho Theatres.
Soho Theatres developed a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an improved theatre alongside community, food and beverage and hotel space at 19 Hawley Square. However, this bid fell through due to being at the end of the funding period although there was sufficient support for the idea.
Your Leisure took the site on in what was supposed to be an interim measure but had been running it up until the closure in April 2022. All staff were made redundant.
Before closure, the Theatre attracted some 36,000 ticket sales annually (including 11,000 for the pantomime) from 168 performances, generating income of £106k.
Currently the theatre has 465 seats (stalls, circle and gallery), with several small bars and WC’s around the building, and a small box office area. Back of the house hosts five dressing rooms with capacity for 29, two unisex toilets and a shower. There is no separate greenroom. The stage measures 9.3m by 6.3m, with fly space and 2.4m by 1.6m level stage access for get-in.
