Royal Theatre

The customer

Built in 1982, the Royal Concert Hall opened with a gala concert starring Sir Elton John. Since then, the roll call of famous names to have performed on its stage ranges from world-renowned classical soloists and conductors to a who’s who of the world’s biggest rock stars, pop bands and stand-up comedians.

The challenge

The internal lighting at the theatre had not been upgraded for many years and vital areas such as the foyer and auditorium were felt to be dull. On top of the improvements needed to the lighting for the benefit of staff and visitors, like all well used public buildings the theatre was faced with an ever-increasing energy bill. The lighting upgrade was a catalyst for a raft of other energy efficacy measures and the theatre wanted them all addressing at once.

The solution

The Energy Projects Service managed the extensive energy efficiency works at the theatre, taking on the role of Principal Contractor. The service coordinated the legal requirements and ensured the seamless integration of the energy efficiency work alongside the wider large-scale refurbishment that the theatre was undergoing at the same time.

The energy efficiency works involved a significant relighting scheme converting the theatre to an LED lighting system, transforming the auditorium, backstage and front of house areas.

The experience

The complexity of the project was increased by the ornate appearance of the building and auditorium. The project team rose to the challenge by designing a scheme that was in keeping with the heritage feel and met the specific demands and lighting requirements of a world-class performance space.