RAAC Closures

[n1david]

First theatre I've seen fall victim to the RAAC issue, Royal & Deangate in Northampton closed for this month.
There were a lot of Arts Council-funded theatres, particularly outside London, built in the 60s and 70s. I wonder if more will have issues?
www.royalandderngate.co.uk/temporary-closure/

[oxfordsimon]

Sept 4, 2023 19:30:26 GMT n1david said:

First theatre I've seen fall victim to the RAAC issue, Royal & Deangate in Northampton closed for this month.
There were a lot of Arts Council-funded theatres, particularly outside London, built in the 60s and 70s. I wonder if more will have issues?
www.royalandderngate.co.uk/temporary-closure/

Very scary. I have performed there many times

[oxfordsimon]

As has been noted on the What's Next thread, the Royal&Derngate in Northampton have closed for the month

www.royalandderngate.co.uk/temporary-closure/

Won't be the last, sadly

[mkb]

The cinemas were only built in the last decade and are separate structures. How could they be affected?

[oxfordsimon]

Risk of the main building collapsing and causing collateral damage?

[Deleted]

Theatres, Stadiums and Entertainment venues must have known about this for a while like the schools and with the noise and vibration in a sports stand or concert venue I'd think the owners would need to be very careful.

[c4ndyc4ne]

Sept 4, 2023 21:20:12 GMT @original9 said:

Theatres, Stadiums and Entertainment venues must have known about this for a while like the schools and with the noise and vibration in a sports stand or concert venue I'd think the owners would need to be very careful.

hopefully vibrations were factored into initial planning assessments and, thinking optimistically, this type of concrete was avoided in case it was especially susceptible. 

[robertb213]

I volunteer there. Our first show back was due to be And Then There Were None, made in house and opening on Thursday. So gutting for everyone involved, and all of the other shows visting this month. It felt eerily similar to Covid times when we learned today it was closing for the foreseeable future. Hope it doesn't take too long to fix, and also hope it doesn't affect too many more venues.

[Jon]

I assume it's the Derngate that's affected and not the older Theatre Royal and they're playing it safe by closing the entire complex.

[oxfordsimon]

The Derngate is, indeed, very much a concrete jungle. But the two theatres are now very much incorporated into one structure.

Any necessary remedial work will affect both to a greater or lesser extent

[BurlyBeaR]

Merged

[lynette]

I’m very sorry if any theatres have been affected - terrible for all but you don’t think that the NT has any of this faulty concrete do you, do you…do you..?

[Jon]

Sept 5, 2023 11:21:43 GMT lynette said:

I’m very sorry if any theatres have been affected - terrible for all but you don’t think that the NT has any of this faulty concrete do you, do you…do you..?

I would assume it's made out of actual concrete. Likewise the Barbican. 

[aingidh]

Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh closed a few months back due to this. And there are fears it won't reopen as East Lothian Council run the venue and may use it as a reason to justify cutting their arts funding.

[n1david]

St David's Hall in Cardiff also apparently has this, and it's been under observation for over a year. The Hall is in the process of a controversial handover to Academy Music Group who have committed to a repair programme, although it isn't clear on the scale of that programme and whether it includes replacement of RAAC.
www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-09-05/dangerous-concrete-found-in-the-ceiling-of-music-venue

[Dave B]

The Orchard Theatre, Dartford has just closed with immediate effect. 42nd Street was due there next week.

[marob]

Sept 5, 2023 11:21:43 GMT lynette said:

I’m very sorry if any theatres have been affected - terrible for all but you don’t think that the NT has any of this faulty concrete do you, do you…do you..?

According to The Stage it’s been found in backstage areas but is safe and will not require repairs.

[lynette]

Sept 5, 2023 16:10:11 GMT marob said:

Sept 5, 2023 11:21:43 GMT lynette said:

I’m very sorry if any theatres have been affected - terrible for all but you don’t think that the NT has any of this faulty concrete do you, do you…do you..?

According to The Stage it’s been found in backstage areas but is safe and will not require repairs.

So no knocking it down and starting again then? 

[Jon]

Because of the age of the majority of London’s theatres, we probably won’t see many closures. The only ones built during the period that RAAC was used aside from the National are the Gillian Lynne and the Barbican.

[Deleted]

Sept 5, 2023 19:34:39 GMT Jon said:

Because of the age of the majority of London’s theatres, we probably won’t see many closures. The only ones built during the period that RAAC was used aside from the National are the Gillian Lynne and the Barbican.

The London theatres may be very old but this is one advantage they have and they were likely built to last. I'd be worried if any RAAC affected buildings were directly under the tube line given the vibration that creates. 

[seasider]

Sept 5, 2023 21:58:57 GMT @original9 said:

Sept 5, 2023 19:34:39 GMT Jon said:

Because of the age of the majority of London’s theatres, we probably won’t see many closures. The only ones built during the period that RAAC was used aside from the National are the Gillian Lynne and the Barbican.

The London theatres may be very old but this is one advantage they have and they were likely built to last. I'd be worried if any RAAC affected buildings were directly under the tube line given the vibration that creates. 

I would be very worried if they were under the tube line

[Dawnstar]

Squinting at the small print of the article in this tweet, I see it says that the issue with the Royal and Derngate theatre is in the foyer. I've never been there so I don't know the layout but is there no way of getting audiences into the auditorium by side doors, bypassing the foyer? If the auditorium itself is okay then it seems a pity they have to close. Or would it contravene some access rule to have the foyer unavailable?

[Jon]

I suspect the Royal and Derngate's case is probably just being cautious. It's interesting to note that the Filmhouse which is part of the complex but built later is only planned to be closed until the 18th September at the moment

[seasider]

Just been announced that the Dixon Studio within the Palace Theatre in Southend has temporarily closed 🙁

[properjob]

If the foyer is out of use they are probably short of fire exits.

It could be other supporting services. Derby Assembly Rooms suffered a fire in the neigbouring multistory car park. The fire didn't reach the theatre itself but took out the supporting plant on the top of the carpark which meant the theatre couldn't be used.