The Heart of the Collective
The basement holds the heart of the collective, a warm, inclusive theatre where performance and accessibility meet. A ramp allows every performer to enter onto the stage with confidence, while integrated wheelchair seating ensures choice and dignity for all audience members. Selected seats can adapt to create face-to-face arrangements for handsigning communication, embedding inclusive practice directly into the design. This space sets the emotional tone for the entire building, a place where creativity is shared, supported and felt.
The foyer is a warm, intimate arrival space with wood floors underfoot, two small red armchairs provide a small viewing space for the surrounding interior. While two quiet sofa nooks offer a retreat from the flow. The surrounding area anchors a softly lit mother of pearl plasticiet hemisphere that sits beneath a copper convex hood light, creating a gentle focal point.
The theatre space is wrapped entirely in warm timber, with a circular ceiling indent that softens the room and a mix of wood panels adding texture. Seating is designed for comfort and flexibility. Upholstered chairs on the rake, and lightweight movable chairs on the flat floor that can be rearranged with ease. These chairs can also be turned to face one another, creating face-to-face seating so Deafblind audience members can experience the performance through handsigning without needing to orient toward the stage.