Replacing Auditorium and Stage Lighting Infrastructure

Built in 1884, Theatre Royal Stratford East (TRSE) in Newham, London is a Grade II listed proscenium arch theatre with an ornate 460-seat auditorium. The building is leased by Pioneer Theatres Limited (PTL) who trade as TRSE, the applicant. The theatre hosts the applicants touring shows, participation programmes, and local community groups. Performances are attended on average by 1,295 people each week, and in addition TRSE host nine weekly groups including three theatre companies, young technicians, Newham Neighbours reading room, a choir, Stratford East Singers, adult drama and a community drama company. Other local residents, schools and community groups also use the space in an ad hoc fashion. To keep the theatre open, there is a need to replace ageing and failing infrastructure in the auditorium and onstage. The house lights do not currently meet the Emergency Situation category of the Association of British Theatre Technicians’ Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment. The inconsistency of lux across the auditorium is concerning, lighting can turn on and off randomly, and bulbs that do work are not very bright and are energy inefficient. Dimmers are 40 years old and 20 per cent of them are inoperable. The main ‘Paradigm Control’ (the brain of the controls/links/auditorium lighting) also needs modernising. The applicant has already secured £100,000 from the Foyle Foundation to fund dimmers and the main control system. Biffa Award funding will replace existing bulbs with LED and install new emergency lighting racks. VAT and contingency will be funded from TRSE’s own reserves.