Urban Space Group Meeting
Thursday 26 August 2010
The Renaissance Centre
RESPONSE TO THE SBC FUTURIST TASK GROUP ON BEHALF OF THE URBAN SPACE GROUP - PART 3
Retention of theatre and / or performance space / facility
1. Should the decision be reached that the Futurist theatre be retained on this site, either in the form of the existing 2,000+ seat auditorium and stage (as distinct from the external shell of the existing building) or as a new 2,000 seat theatre to be constructed as an integral part of any redevelopment of the site. The development brief to be prepared for this site should ensure that the theatre – whether retained or new – is one of the first parts of any development to be completed.
2. Closure of the building is inevitable, even for refurbishment. It is therefore essential to attempt to mitigate any such disruption to the provision of entertainment or other leisure activities in the area.
3. The site has a history of entertainment stretching back over a hundred years. An imaginative and flexible interpretation of the space will be essential to make the project commercially viable and sustainable, thereby ensuring its continued existence.
4. Much of the debate regarding the future of a theatre on this site has concentrated on whether the facility should be designed for an audience of either 1,000 or 2,000 people. This lacks ambition and misses the obvious potential of a performance venue in this location.
5. For example, any theatre-related activity facing onto Foreshore Road could take full advantage of the expanse of sand in front of the site to include the possibility of an outdoor stage at high level (first or second floor) facing the beach. The debate should therefore be about whether a performance might attract 2,000 people (in the internal theatre) or 5,000+ people on the beach.
6. As has been demonstrated by many successful outdoor events held in Scarborough, the boost to all local businesses could be substantial. This would offer a significantly different performance space to that of the Open Air Theatre, thereby adding to and complimenting the current existing facilities available in the town.
7. Perhaps this appears a little farfetched, but the principal is to encourage the exploration of all potential solutions. Whether it is the development of an indoor space that can be adjusted to suit different forms of performance and audience, or as previously suggested, taking advantage of the potential for creating an outdoor amphitheatre. This might be for a few thousand on the beach, or a couple of hundred in the gardens or on the pavement in front of the theatre itself.
8. Any solution should form an integral part of the town’s overall entertainment, leisure and tourism strategy.
9. The delivery of large scenery items to the theatre would be most possible from Foreshore Road - Please also refer to General Recommendations - Point 13
10. To reiterate the previous points, the wider site context must be developed as a whole as opposed to simply approaching the theatre in isolation.
11. If developed, The Futurist should become an iconic urban landmark and employ a ‘seaside’ philosophy of creativity, endeavour and adventure.
< Part 2 Appendix A >
