CASE OVERVIEW
Park Theatre is the brainchild of Artistic Director Jez Bond, who discovered the space - at that time a disused office - in 2009. Realising its potential, Bond engaged David Hughes Architects - a first time theatre architect and the two embarked on a period of extensive research, to understand what ingredients made for the perfect theatre space and functioning building for the community.
Garnering support from the theatre community at large – including luminaries such as Ian McKellen and Alan Rickman, the press and, importantly, local residents including, Dominic Meyrick of Hoare Lea – they set out to raise the necessary funds to convert the tired concrete building into a thriving new theatre and beacon for the community. At a cost of just £2.6 million, the building, designed by David Hughes Architects, opened in May 2013 to rave reviews from the critics.
Since their grand opening, Jez Bond has continued to make upgrades, one important aspect being to improve the energy efficiency of the building, for which local resident, Dominic Meyrick of Hoare Lea was approached to provide Lighting Design expertise.