How Shaftesbury Theatre’s exciting renovations are helping put heart into the art of the West End
The Shaftesbury Theatre, currently home to & Juliet, this week revealed the latest stage of its £10 million ‘Dramatic Transformation’ programme, and Everything Theatre was invited along to see what they’ve been up to. It’s an impressive project; but the tour revealed that what’s unique about the theatre is more than just the building itself.
The Shaftesbury is the largest independent theatre in the West End. A gloriously ornate Edwardian structure, built in 1911, it has withstood two world wars and a more recent global pandemic. Our host, Executive Director James Williams, explained not only how the Grade II listed building has been carefully future-proofed with a massive investment in its infrastructure, but spoke with passion of community connections, networks and wellbeing.
In 2013 a series of building improvements began, including installation of offices and an impressive £5 million flytower, which are visible from the roof. The foundations and steel legs for this were installed during just two eight week dark periods back then, and the top section followed, in 2015. The theatre remained open throughout, with construction work during the day and performances of Memphis and The Illusionists each evening. In 2016 a lift was fitted down to stage level, where there is an accessible dressing room and toilet for performers with mobility issues.
The seed for further improvements began when Camden Council announced its intention to develop Princes Circus, including pedestrianising areas around the site. Realising that the theatre owned the land beneath the road, they seized on the opportunity to extend their basement premises. This week sees the launch of the beautiful 1911 stalls bar, constructed 3.5 metres underground. The renovation process revealed layers of the past, such as the bare bricks of the bar, which have been kept. The white tiles of the former heating plant also remain, but the space is now innovatively reinvented as a cosy hospitality area: the new Taffner Suite, named in honour of the late Don Taffner Sr (former Chairman of the Shaftesbury’s Theatre of Comedy Company and father of the current Chairman, Donald Taffner Jnr).
The theatre’s beautiful historic ceilings have now been renovated, allowing for working platforms in the technical void above the dome ceiling. Formerly technical staff would be unable to stand when working above stage.
Further refurbished public spaces have also been unveiled, including over fifty new toilets, a state of the art air-conditioning system and reconfigured seating in the auditorium. Access needs have been enhanced with the fitting of a public lift from street level to the stalls, along with thirteen new wheelchair spaces and removeable seats, which will eventually be installed throughout.
All of these improvements set the theatre up for a great future. But clearly there is more to it than bricks and mortar. James spoke of the Shaftesbury as above all a space for people; a place to “feed the soul”. Wellbeing is at the heart of many of the changes. A flat space set back from the steels of the flytower offers a peaceful rooftop recreation area for staff, whilst the stylish entertainment spaces open the building to new visitors by day, for meetings and creative events. And it’s good relationships in the industry, at the council and in the local community that forge the distinctive, independent personality of the Shaftesbury, making it unique.
This is a fabulous West End theatre that truly has a beating heart beneath its art. Its new features will allow it to welcome customers new and old to fabulous shows for many years to come.
& Juliet is booking at the Shaftesbury Theatre until Saturday 25 March 2023. Details are available at https://www.shaftesburytheatre.com/events/juliet/
