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We create amazing spaces where stories are told and music is made.
Our passion for our work means we deliver the best possible spaces for performance. Working in partnership with your architect and engineering team we offer design services for all sorts of projects: from historic theatres to contemporary workplaces, from permanent buildings to temporary structures, from the physical to the digital.
We provide strategic consultancy, project leadership and detailed design scopes for cultural projects, auditoria and technical design, as well as acoustic and digital design. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, leading to theatrically innovative solutions that really get the most out of spaces, whether physical or digital.
We want what we do to transform the cultural landscape, from wherever that story starts. Whatever the scale or budget of a project, our starting point is always the desire to do really great work that is bespoke to you and your organisation.
We love what we do. We think you will too.
Gavin and Elina discuss a model of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the London studio.
The founding four.
An early concept sketch for Baltimore Center Stage
Our story
...Pushing the boundaries of storytelling and music making.
We began, two decades ago, as a team of four knowing we wanted to do it differently. Tired of seeing cookie-cutter solutions in arts buildings, we knew that by bringing together the best people from different production disciplines, we could create inspirational, bespoke performance spaces. We are now over 70 talented individuals across six studios working with more types of space than ever. We're driven by taking our projects in ever new and diverse directions.
Erin helps a guest into a VR simulation of the Waikato Regional Theatre
Andy road tests a new AR application developed in-house.
An exterior render of the The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center (render: REX / Luxigon)
Digital disruption
...Audience experience is no longer contained to four walls.
Like you, we love finding ways to enhance audience experience and push the boundaries of storytelling. Using digital channels to enhance audience experience has huge potential to bring a story to life. It can connect people around the world, whether that’s using video to visualise it across a building or immersing the audience through VR. It’s all moving very fast, so we set up our digital and R&D teams to spend time developing ideas and solutions with new technologies.
Ollie, Elena and Gary discuss a model of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Ollie discusses a model of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
A sectional concept sketch of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Impossible projects
...Innovation starts with understanding and a shared ambition.
We pride ourselves on taking an ambitious vision and bringing it to life, no matter how challenging it will be. Our theatrical backgrounds, collaborative and multidisciplinary approach means we are able to rise to challenges that others would find impossible. We listen, and listen again, because creating a shared ambition with all the stakeholders is vital. We challenge conventions and offer innovative designs and delivery, yes, but we always keep the creative vision at the heart of what we do. We are there with you, from concept to opening night.
Gavin and Elina discuss a model of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the London studio.
The founding four.
Our story
...Pushing the boundaries of storytelling and music making.
We began, two decades ago, as a team of four knowing we wanted to do it differently. Tired of seeing cookie-cutter solutions in arts buildings, we knew that by bringing together the best people from different production disciplines, we could create inspirational, bespoke performance spaces. We are now over 70 talented individuals across six studios working with more types of space than ever. We're driven by taking our projects in ever new and diverse directions.
An early concept sketch for Baltimore Center Stage
Erin helps a guest into a VR simulation of the Waikato Regional Theatre
Andy road tests a new AR application developed in-house.
An exterior render of the The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center (render: REX / Luxigon)
Digital disruption
...Audience experience is no longer contained to four walls.
Like you, we love finding ways to enhance audience experience and push the boundaries of storytelling. Using digital channels to enhance audience experience has huge potential to bring a story to life. It can connect people around the world, whether that’s using video to visualise it across a building or immersing the audience through VR. It’s all moving very fast, so we set up our digital and R&D teams to spend time developing ideas and solutions with new technologies.
Ollie, Elena and Gary discuss a model of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Ollie discusses a model of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Impossible projects
...Innovation starts with understanding and a shared ambition.
We pride ourselves on taking an ambitious vision and bringing it to life, no matter how challenging it will be. Our theatrical backgrounds, collaborative and multidisciplinary approach means we are able to rise to challenges that others would find impossible. We listen, and listen again, because creating a shared ambition with all the stakeholders is vital. We challenge conventions and offer innovative designs and delivery, yes, but we always keep the creative vision at the heart of what we do. We are there with you, from concept to opening night.
A sectional concept sketch of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
What's new
"I was 31 years old and pitching a project to the Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director and chief exec in her north London kitchen!" says Gavin Green of Charcoalblue
Press
Listen: Erin Shepherd makes theatrical dreams come true – Erin talks about the Dunedin feasibility study and Waikato Regional Theatre on RNZ's Standing Room Only
Press
Supporting the industry internationally since 2004
