05 Sep Theatre reopens foyer spaces ready for the autumn season after major works
As Royal & Derngate’s autumn season gets going, with hit musical Pretty Woman coming to the Derngate auditorium from Monday 9 September, theatre staff are getting ready to reopen most of their foyer spaces and facilities, after a busy summer of building work. In addition, a new café-bar, Lola’s, is opening adjacent to the theatre on Guildhall Road.
While the theatre stages have been dark over summer, works have been focussed on the huge task of reinforcing the foyer roof (where RAAC concrete was discovered last September), to ensure complete safety without the support of scaffolding. Work has also been carried out on restoring the plaster ceiling in the historic Royal Theatre to its former glory.
Once again, all customers for Derngate performances will enter through the main entrance on Swan Street (by Box Office). The scaffolding and hoardings in the main foyer area have been removed and the main bar in the Stalls foyer will once again be open, meaning less time queuing for drinks and additional seating available to relax in before the show starts.
Lift access to the Derngate Circle level will once again be available, with the Circle foyer coming back into use, also meaning that additional wheelchair spaces are now bookable going forward. Customers will also be able to access the Circle level of the auditorium from both left and right, making it easier to move around the space.
Lola’s Bar is also opening from early September, on the corner of Guildhall Road and Swan Street, initially serving drinks, including cocktails, wine and beer, and speciality coffee, and a selection of cakes and pastries during in the day, with the full food offering to be launched in October.
Royal & Derngate Chief Executive Jo Gordon said: “We talk about going ‘dark’ in the summer, because we have no shows on but the idea that nothing is happening couldn’t be further from the truth. Our buildings have been a hive of activity over the last six weeks, and we are delighted that we can now welcome customers back into more of our spaces, with more people able to enjoy a drink in the foyer before the show, better access to the circle level by stairs and lift, and easier access to toilets. There’s still a little more work to do in some areas of the building but theatre-goers coming to see Pretty Woman will feel things are really returning to normal. We are so grateful for all the support and understanding that people have shown during the last year – we couldn’t have made it through without you!”
Final phases of work continue into the Autumn. Customers for the Royal Dress Circle and Upper Circle will continue to use the Guildhall Road entrance until the end of October, with further updates coming soon.
In addition to Pretty Woman, other highlights of the autumn season include Olivier Award-winning Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), Made in Northampton productions My Mother’s Funeral: The Show, Never Let Me Go and The Jolly Christmas Postman, and the spectacular family pantomime Cinderella. For more information, visit the theatre’s website at www.royalandderngate.co.uk or call Box Office on 01604 624811.
