MALVERN THEATRES

New Performance Studio: The completed design reimagines the theatre’s frontage, opening it up to create a more welcoming and contemporary presence that better reflects its role within the community.

A new addition introduces a flexible rehearsal and education space at first-floor level, alongside a reworked ground-floor entrance. The entrance is opened out and landscaped to create a clearer, more accessible arrival that connects more naturally with the street.

Positioned between the cinema and theatre, the new link brings together two buildings with very different scales and characters. Its simple, horizontal form helps bridge these differences, while extending outward to form a canopy that provides shelter and marks the entrance.

The façade is gently angled, with a rhythm of gold vertical elements that subtly reference the opening of stage curtains. Their spacing draws attention toward the centre of the building, helping guide visitors from the town centre toward the entrance.

At first floor, offices and meeting rooms sit on either side of the main space, echoing the ‘wings’ of a stage. This allows the rehearsal space to feel like a stage in its own right, with activity visible from the street and becoming part of the theatre’s public life.

The large glazed frontage offers glimpses of activity within, creating a strong visual connection between the theatre and the street. It invites curiosity and engagement, allowing passersby to feel part of the life of the building even before they step inside.