The
weekend beginning on 1st March 2014 saw the return of an old friend,
Liverpool welcomed back the new Everyman Theatre. And after a £27m rebuild the
Theatre looks amazing, not only outside, but inside as well
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The new
theatre facade
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The
celebrations began on Saturday 1st March with a parade entitled 'Lights Up',
created by Walk the Plank, The Liverpool Lantern Company and Sense of Sound.
Hundreds of people began gathering outside both the Playhouse, where the parade
began and the Everyman, the destination for the parade, from early evening.
Despite it being a cold and sometimes wet night people came out to welcome the
Everyman back, and what a welcome it was. The lighting display was amazing
topped off (literally) with fireworks on the roof of the new building. The parade made its way through the city from
the Playhouse arriving at the Everyman at 7.45pm when the main part of the
celebrations began. The Sense of Sound choir, with bands from Anfield
Breckfield Community Centre and the Anfield community arts band, took part in
the outdoor ceremony. A group of schoolchildren from St Mattews Catholic
Primary School entertained the crowd waiting for the opening.
On Sunday 2nd
March 2014 the Theatre opened its doors to the public for a 'housewarming'
event which gave the people of the city an opportunity to see inside the
Everyman and look at the culmination of a three year rebuild. Dominic Beaumont,
the Communications and Media Officer of the Everyman theatre filled me in on
all that was new at the Everyman and gave me a quick tour prior to handing me
over to Andrew Reece who accompanied me on a full tour of the building. I have
written an article for the History Press and would like to thank Dominic and
his team for their co-operation. The one thing that struck me immediately was
how lived in the building felt although it is brand new. This is due in part to
the large amount of recycled brick both from the old theatre and reclaimed
brick from the city, that has been used. But its not just the fabric of the
build, it's the fact that they have remained true to the original design of the
building, keeping the auditorium more or less the way it was. I say more or
less because although they haven't massively increased the capacity (around 500
seats) they have the ability to move all the seating around, to raise or lower
the stage to add seating to create a theatre in the round and even flood the
stage area. The other amazing thing is
the accessibility, not only for the public but also for actors and theatre
staff, this extends to a gantry around the theatre lighting rig which would
allow access to the rig for a lighting engineer in a wheelchair, now how
fantastic is that.
The Theatre has
a bar on the ground floor as you enter and the old bar layout on the first
floor outside the auditorium has been reconfigured and an amazing balcony which
gives patrons a view of hope street and our two Cathedrals. and of course in
the basement we welcome back the Everyman Bistro, a new and vibrant space with
the most amazing lighting. As well as this the theatre now has a writers room
available to local writers and meeting and other spaces available to hire,
including the rehearsal space, (subject to availability).
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| One of the new bars |
The four chimneysn the
roof demonstrates just what a green friendly build this is, they are part of
the ventilation system which circulates natural air throughout the
building. There is also a large tank that collects rainwater to flush the
toilets, there are nesting boxes and the theatre plans to put bee hives on the
roof, so we can look forward to some fresh honey in the future.
The new Theatre
is a great place not only to see plays, but to meet up with friends for a drink
and maybe a bite to eat. Tours will be available from April to August,
contact the box office for details on 0150709 4776.
Whatever you do,
if you are in Liverpool pay the Everyman a visit, you will not be disappointed.
Link
A selection of
photographs including the 'Light Up' ceremony and the 'Housewarming' event
appear below.
Click on any
image to view them all in 'Lightbox' (tm)
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Are you looking at me ! - Lantern Parade
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| School children performing at the event |
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| Lights Up |
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Lights Up and Fireworks
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| Stairs to the Bistro |
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| Bistro Entrance |
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The new Everyman Bistro
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The Bar
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| Actors quiet room |
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| View from the upper floors |
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| Wardrobe |
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| Wig making |
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Wardrobe
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| Guided tours |
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| One of the dressing rooms |
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| The Rehearsal Space |
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The Green Room
The new auditorium
The production Gallery
The writers Room
The Roman Catholic Cathedral from the roof of the Everyman
Two views along Hope Street
(above and below photographs)
The all new Everyman Theatre Liverpool
Robert F Edwards
With Thanks to the Everyman Theatre
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The
celebrations began on Saturday 1st March with a parade entitled 'Lights Up',
created by Walk the Plank, The Liverpool Lantern Company and Sense of Sound.
Hundreds of people began gathering outside both the Playhouse, where the parade
began and the Everyman, the destination for the parade, from early evening.
Despite it being a cold and sometimes wet night people came out to welcome the
Everyman back, and what a welcome it was. The lighting display was amazing
topped off (literally) with fireworks on the roof of the new building. The parade made its way through the city from
the Playhouse arriving at the Everyman at 7.45pm when the main part of the
celebrations began. The Sense of Sound choir, with bands from Anfield
Breckfield Community Centre and the Anfield community arts band, took part in
the outdoor ceremony. A group of schoolchildren from St Mattews Catholic
Primary School entertained the crowd waiting for the opening.
