The History of Theatre Projects

Theatre Projects is the oldest continually operating theater, arts, and culture consultancy in the world. With offices in New York, Denver, New England, London, Paris, and Shanghai, we have delivered more than 2,000 projects around the world since our founding in 1957.
Our History
Our impact at a glance

Delivering Expertise Across The World

2000+

Projects delivered

Theatre projects continues to deliver the strategic, management, and physical infrastructure that expands audience access to arts and entertainment around the world.

80+

Countries around the globe

Theatre Projects has partnered with thousands of communities from every walk of life to to realize their goals for live arts and entertainment.

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Global experts

Theatre Projects’ team is comprised of dozens of experts across multiple disciplines that provide an unmatched level of service to our clients.

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Offices across the world

Our geographic diversity only adds to our diversity of thought and solutions. Working together across all of our offices, we are able to offer the most comprehensive solutions for any project.

Our story

The Journey of Theatre Projects

There are pivotal moments at Theatre Projects that we believe speak to where we started and grew as a company.

Lighting Inception

1957

Richard Pilbrow founds Theatre Projects in London, initially as a stage lighting design and rental company.

1957

National Milestone

1962

With the help of Sir Lawrence Olivier, Theatre Projects opens the National Theatre in England.

1962

Production Debut

1967

Theatre Projects puts on its first large scale production Fiddler on the Roof.

1967

Intimate Innovation

1980

The Tricycle Theatre (now the Kiln Theatre) is built using a free-standing scaffolding system that addresses budge constraint while creating an intimate space.

1980

Cultural Milestone

1987

Portland’s Centers for the Arts opens, a restoration project that puts Theatre Projects on the map.

1987

US Expansion

1991

Theatre Projects expands its reach the United States.

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Times Square Renewal

1994

The New Amsterdam opens, spurring the entire redevelopment of Times Square.

1994

Automated Innovation

2009

The Wyly Theatre opens, the first automated and reconfigurable multi-form theatre.

2009

Acoustics Debut

2017

Theatre Projects adds an in-house acoustics team.

2017

Audiovisual Expansion

2019

Theatre Projects adds an audiovisual team.

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Strategic Operations

2021

Theatre Projects add the Strategy and Operations team.

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Lab Innovation

2023

Theatre Projects adds the Theatre Projects Lab team.

2023
Global presence

Connections to Communities Worldwide

Theatre Projects has worked in thousands of communities across the globe. Explore our history and visit some of our most iconic projects.

Because they’re artists, they were able to creatively solve problems, especially the challenges of creating a practical, usable theatre space in an architecturally adventurous building that had few precedents in the world.

Kevin Moriarty

Artistic Director – Dallas Theater Center

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is theatre consulting?
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Do you only focus on theatres?
How has Theatre Projects changed over the years?
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What is Theatre Projects Lab?