Project summary

The Cube is a regeneration project in the heart of Corby in Northamptonshire, housing a 450-seat proscenium theatre with retractable seating and overstage flying, a studio theatre space, a library, art galleries and administration spaces.

The main Core Theatre is a three-tiered Victorian-styled theatre that has the ability to cater for everything from flat floor events to traditional theatre shows. The curved retractable seating unit is embraced by traditional horseshoe shaped balconies and is an engaging place to enjoy a performance. In fact the classic horseshoe shape of the balconies were a critical and significant design consideration that now ensure The Core retains that all-important sense of drama. They bring a strong sense of theatricality and dramatic tension to the room and ensure that the auditorium is supremely recognisable as a 'proper theatre'. This is further intensified by the design of comfortable, warm, red, plush seating and walnut wall panelling that lines the walls.

The studio space - The Lab - although simple, is a fully functioning, professional performance space. The room has its own unique identity as opposed to being just a 'black-box' anonymous space. Unusually, it benefits from natural daylight and allows a two-way relationship with the world outside.

The scale of The Lab makes it suitable for a broad range of professional and amateur activities and is ideal for exploitation in terms of income generation.

Charcoalblue assisted the architects in the planning of the auditorium and stage, which includes an innovative curved retractable bleacher system and fully motorised scenic flying, as well as designing custom stagelighting and audiovisual technical systems which include digital cinema.