Lawrence Batley Theatre

Architectural treatment was kept low key in order to interpose the minimum physical and visual barriers between actors and audience. This approach is particularly well-suited to the flexible courtyard. The central area is mechanised so as to provide a convincing thrust stage alternative to an end stage. The encircling galleries step up around the corner boxes. This enabled a minimum floor-to-floor dimension to be achieved at the sides, where emptiness is to be avoided in courtyard theatres. The result is the most densely packed of recent courtyards. This multiform theatre can be configured in several ways: as a full end stage – with or without orchestra pit, an end stage with forestage or thrust stage, or for flat floor events.