Play On

In spite of economic austerity, the last decade has seen the design and construction of numerous innovative and well-received venues for drama, as well as the sensitive and intelligent refurbishment of theatres constructed during the twentieth century. These buildings reflect a range of impulses, from the creative desires of theatre-makers to a continuing sense that buildings for performance can play a role in economic regeneration and in negotiating the cultural identities of towns and cities on national and international stages. Beautifully illustrated, this book provides a detailed survey of ten current and recent architectural projects to display the vitality of contemporary performance architecture in Britain. In an age of increasingly digital leisure, the book questions how those commissioning, designing and using performance buildings have sought to re-imagine these types of building. It also explores to what extent `architecture' is part of the experience of staging or attending a play. The book asks how other agendas - such as cultural inclusivity and economic regeneration - have shaped the conception and design of these buildings, and to what extent do they complement (or perhaps even outweigh?) more obviously `artistic' agendas.