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Shakespeare North

by Helm Architecture with executive architects Austin-Smith: Lord

Client Shakespeare North Playhouse

Award °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ North West Award 2024, °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ North West Project Architect of the Year 2024, °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ North West Building of the Year 2024 (sponsored by ), and °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Client of the Year 2024.

Shakespeare North © Infinite 3D Photography

Shakespeare North is a new theatre building focused on promoting learning, experimentation, and reinterpretation of the works of Shakespeare. Prescot is thought to have been the only English town outside of London to have had a freestanding, purpose-built indoor playhouse in the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Shakespeare is believed to have belonged to a troupe of actors who performed there. This backstory has led to a historically accurate re-creation of an Elizabethan theatre as the building’s kernel.

Around it, the architect has set a contemporary wrapping in the form of a concertina ‘screen’ of brick and glass, containing the foyer and bar areas to the front of house and rehearsal and admin spaces to the rear. The project aimed to inspire a community, transform opportunity, raise educational aspiration and attainment, and play a part in regenerating one of the most deprived boroughs in the UK.

Read the full citation from the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Awards Jury on °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Journal.

Contractor Kier Group

Structural Engineer Mott MacDonald (Altrincham)

Theatre Consultant Arup (Winchester)

M&E Engineer (Design Intent) Aecom (Manchester)

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant Aecom (Liverpool)

Sustainability Aecom (Liverpool)

Fire Consultant Aecom (Manchester)

Acoustic Engineer Aecom (St Albans)

Access Consultant E3 Cube (Liverpool)

M&E Engineer (Detailed Design) Foreman Roberts (Manchester)

Principal Designer Advisor Curtins (Birmingham)

Public Artist Simon Watkinson

Theatre Timber Frame Design and Construction McCurdy and Co

Stage Engineering Adlib

Stage Electrics PSVCL

Theatre Seating Auditoria

Specialist Joinery WJL

Gross internal area m² 4,030

Shakespeare North © Infinite 3D Photography
Shakespeare North © Infinite 3D Photography
Shakespeare North © Infinite 3D Photography
Shakespeare North © Meg Terzza
Shakespeare North © Andrew P Brooks
Shakespeare North © Infinite 3D Photography
Shakespeare North © Infinite 3D Photography
Shakespeare North © Infinite 3D Photography
Shakespeare North © Helm Architecture with executive architects Austin-Smith Lord
Shakespeare North © Helm Architecture with executive architects Austin-Smith Lord
Shakespeare North © Helm Architecture with executive architects Austin-Smith Lord
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