400 Hall Update

Befitting the outstanding quality of drama displayed in this year’s school play, the new theatre is taking magnificent shape. Equipped with our hard hats and orange jackets we were lucky enough to take a peek at the fantastic development that is taking place inside. The 400 Hall will boast a beautiful foyer, providing large break-out space with its own bar-cum-box office, and a floor-to-ceiling glass prism that can be used as the backdrop to a small performance area that can be used during intervals. The foyer leads on to the studio theatre, for smaller productions, or to the impressive new theatre which seats an audience of 320.  The stage opening is completely new, wider and higher than previously, but with moveable “proscenium-flaps” that will give multifarious options for stage entry and exit.

The audience experience will be improved massively, with new raked seating, the central stalls area being height-adjustable and removable to allow promenade performances, the use of a thrust stage and even the option to do “in-the-round” productions. With the new balcony wrapping round towards the stage the atmosphere will be much more intimate creating a fantastic opportunity for feedback and interaction between the audience and the performers. Overhead, a tension wire grid has been installed that allows safe access and infinite flexibility with the lighting. 

And it will all come together to create a theatre worthy of the drama that Repton produces. Guy Levesley, Director of Dramatic Productions, has worked closely with the design team and the contractors to provide a theatre suited to Repton and suited to the inclusion of the pupils in all parts of production such as the lighting. We look forward greatly to the first production in this incredible new theatre but for now here are a few photos to get a feel of what will be an impressive end result!