The Esteem Consortium has been awarded the contract to refurbish the Hull New Theatre.
Access to the historic theatre will be improved, and the stage size increased to allow the larger sets used in popular touring productions to move into the space, increasing audience figures. The seating capacity of 1,159 will be increased and the outdoor plaza will be redeveloped.
The appointment of The Esteem Consortium follows last month’s announcement of £5m towards the Hull New Theatre project in the Chancellor’s Budget in order to ensure that the works can be completed in 2017.
Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Stephen Brady said: “We are delighted that the full refurbishment works can now get underway at the theatre and I am confident that Esteem will be able to deliver a high-quality finish on one of the city’s key cultural venues. The renovation of Hull New Theatre is critical to ensuring that Hull secures a lasting legacy from its year as UK City of Culture 2017 and this investment is part of our long-term plan to regenerate our economy, securing lasting benefits for the people of Hull and the region.”
The Chairman of Hull Esteem Richard King states “We’re extremely proud to be supporting Hull City Council on this iconic project that will, once opened, attract new touring shows to the city and in turn, inward investment.”
