Architecture minister lays into unacceptable condition of West End theatres

from Building Design 19 June 2009
By Will Hurst, Ruth Bloomfield

Architecture minister Barbara Follett has attacked the state of London's historic theatres

Follett said world-class productions in the capital were being let down by unacceptable conditions endured by audiences.

Experts have called for a £250 million investment to bring them up to scratch.

"London theatres put on the best shows in the world: marvellous plays, actors, directors and staging," Follett told the Theatres Trust annual conference last week.

"But sometimes the brilliant performances on stage are not matched by audience facilities.

"A ludicrously inadequate supply of toilets - especially for women; seating installed in an age when theatre-goers were considerably shorter than they are today; and overcrowded lobbies can take the shine off an evening's entertainment - however good it is.

"That is why excellent, customer-focused design is really important."

But Steve Tompkins of Haworth Tompkins, who was at the conference, sharply criticised Follett's speech - originally to have been given by departing culture secretary Andy Burnham.

"Even allowing for the fact that Follett was thrown in at the deep end after Burnham's move, it was a wasted opportunity to raise the level of debate," Tompkins said.

"Everyone understands the need to provide decent toilets and legroom whenever we get the chance, it doesn't need saying.

But we already have too many comfortable, dull theatre buildings so I'd argue that the search for richness, sustainability and excitement is a more important subject for a keynote address. This is a culture minister after all."

And fellow attendee Tim Foster, of Tim Foster Architects, a trustee of The Theatres Trust, said improving West End theatre would be very difficult to achieve.

"There is a misconception that West End theatre owners are making pots of money - in fact it is the producers," he said. "Most owners have now introduced a ticket levy - usually £1 - to put towards building improvements, but it is a drop in the ocean."

Earlier this year it emerged that audiences at one of the capital's oldest theatres were demanding refunds because of the "insufferable" heat at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.