Next week, it will be 12 months since Mary Newman and I arrived at the theatre to find four inches of water in the lounge bar and green room. This was the first of Nature’s attempts to make us reopen the swimming pool and is generally referred to as Flood Minor. Fitting, then, that Robin Shapero confirmed yesterday that he will be here next week to fit the remaining Floodwalls – one airbrick, the vestibule door and the cellar hatch. This means we will be as protected as we possibly can against similar disasters. We’ll be running brief training sessions in how to operate the system in a couple of weeks’ time and will be inviting all those people we feel ought to know how to use them in due course.
On the inside, most of the activity is at low-lying levels. The dressing rooms and corridors have now been finished – painted throughout, plastered where necessary, and completely re-carpeted in a nice warm red. All that remains before the actors can make use of them is a quick running over with the vacuum cleaner.
In the auditorium, doors have been attached to the lighting and sound boxes and all that remains for them to be completed are the installation of the curved glass panes, as the frames are already in position. Underlay has been fixed to the raking while holes have appeared in the smaller set
of steps – not through poor workmanship but deliberate design, as these will hold lights to ensure people can safely ascend or descend the rake.
The balconies have now acquired their new appearance and the pool area is completely boarded and painted. Electrical work is still ongoing and Ian Chandler is popping in every night to keep an eye on things. Ian – who should henceforth be known as ‘Our Hero’ – has spent an incredible amount of time down here liasing with contractors, electricians and the architect and I’m not sure what this place would do without him.
In the lounge bar, gripping strips are being laid around the edge of the room in preparation for new carpet while the front of house bar and kitchen are about to receive new vinyl flooring. The lounge, corridor and auditorium will be fitted with the same carpet, as in the photo (left). The flash on the camera makes this look a much brighter red than it actually is - it is very much a claret red - but you get the idea.
On the inside, most of the activity is at low-lying levels. The dressing rooms and corridors have now been finished – painted throughout, plastered where necessary, and completely re-carpeted in a nice warm red. All that remains before the actors can make use of them is a quick running over with the vacuum cleaner.In the auditorium, doors have been attached to the lighting and sound boxes and all that remains for them to be completed are the installation of the curved glass panes, as the frames are already in position. Underlay has been fixed to the raking while holes have appeared in the smaller set
of steps – not through poor workmanship but deliberate design, as these will hold lights to ensure people can safely ascend or descend the rake.The balconies have now acquired their new appearance and the pool area is completely boarded and painted. Electrical work is still ongoing and Ian Chandler is popping in every night to keep an eye on things. Ian – who should henceforth be known as ‘Our Hero’ – has spent an incredible amount of time down here liasing with contractors, electricians and the architect and I’m not sure what this place would do without him.
In the lounge bar, gripping strips are being laid around the edge of the room in preparation for new carpet while the front of house bar and kitchen are about to receive new vinyl flooring. The lounge, corridor and auditorium will be fitted with the same carpet, as in the photo (left). The flash on the camera makes this look a much brighter red than it actually is - it is very much a claret red - but you get the idea.
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