Inside the £24m rebuilding of Hertford’s new theatre

The new Hertford Theatre is now really taking shape, with building work well underway in advance of its planned phased opening next year.

In a tour of the building on Thursday 22nd June, Axis was able to see just how the theatre, with its main auditorium, studio theatre, three cinema screens, food and drink offerings, community rooms and dance studio, is coming along.

And it is clear that the people of Hertford and surrounding areas will be in for a treat when it opens, with the building being completely transformed.

One of the spaces most advanced is the studio theatre, which will be finished to a similar high spec to the main auditorium. It will have a capacity of 150 people (up from 60 in the old building), with 100 on floor-level seating and 50 on the balcony.

The floor-level seating will be retractable with the ability to ‘disappear’ underneath the floor, opening up the space for other events – for example, enabling DJs to play on the balcony to the audience below.

Other innovations include the introduction of self-service ticketing kiosks (with help available if needed) where people can come in and buy tickets in person. Alongside the studio theatre on the ground floor are a riverside café, bar and kitchen area, community rooms for hire and a ‘town square’ area. On the first floor are the three cinema screens, the main auditorium seating 550, dance studio and another food and drink area.

Theatre director Rhys Thomas confirmed that handover of the building, which is being constructed by GPF Lewis, is due to take place at the end of March next year, with a phased opening from May which will begin with the cinema showing new release films in Hertford for the first time in a generation.

Live performances will start later in the summer as the theatre rolls into full-time operation in preparation for its 2024 panto.

The £24million rebuilding of the theatre, known as its Growth and Legacy Project, is being undertaken by owners East Herts Council.