Theatre Consultancy and Broadcast Studio Design for a Creative and Performing Arts Campus Building
This award-winning development was created to support the next generation of performers, writers, journalists and media professionals, bringing together world-class theatre, broadcast and teaching facilities within a single creative arts building. Designed as a hub for performance, production and media education, the facility provides students with access to professional-standard environments that mirror industry practice while supporting a wide range of academic disciplines.
Drama by Design was appointed as Theatre, Broadcast and AV Consultant, responsible for the design of the technical systems throughout the building. Our role included the complete technical design of the television and radio studios, detailed theatre systems design for the performance spaces and project management of the specialist installations during the construction phase. Working closely with the design team and main contractor, we helped deliver a highly integrated facility that supports performance, teaching, production and broadcasting activities across multiple departments.
At the heart of the building is a fully flexible 180-seat theatre designed to support a wide range of performance styles and teaching activities. The venue is complemented by a comprehensive suite of backstage facilities, including dressing rooms, scenery workshops and green room facilities, creating a professional production environment for students and visiting practitioners. Additional drama and dance studios, together with a lecture theatre capable of operating as a performance venue, provide further flexibility across the building.
Drama by Design developed the theatre technology infrastructure to maximise flexibility and future adaptability. The main theatre incorporates an innovative overhead gantry system with movable beams and motorised hoists, enabling lighting, scenery and technical equipment to be positioned throughout the space. This provides exceptional flexibility for theatre productions, performances and teaching activities while ensuring safe and efficient technical access.
Comprehensive stage lighting systems were designed and installed throughout the performance spaces, providing professional production capabilities across the theatre, studios and teaching environments. Flexible infrastructure allows both traditional and LED lighting equipment to be deployed as required, while integrated control systems provide simple operation for day-to-day teaching and sophisticated control for performances and events. Programmable house, working and performance lighting systems enable venue operators to tailor the environment to suit a wide range of activities.
Alongside the performing arts facilities, Drama by Design designed a suite of state-of-the-art television and radio studios that provide students with hands-on experience in professional broadcast production. The television studios feature flexible lighting grids, pantograph suspension systems and comprehensive technical infrastructure that enables video, audio and communications systems to be connected seamlessly between studio floors and production galleries. The facilities were designed to replicate professional broadcast environments, supporting both practical teaching and content creation.
The building-wide audio infrastructure was designed around a networked digital audio platform, providing flexible routing and control throughout the facility. This approach enables audio resources to be shared between performance spaces, studios and teaching rooms while allowing future expansion as technologies evolve. User-friendly control interfaces ensure that sophisticated systems remain accessible to students, lecturers and technical staff alike.
The completed project demonstrates Drama by Design’s expertise in theatre consultancy, theatre technology design, television studio consultancy, radio studio design and integrated audio-visual systems. By bringing together performance venues, broadcast facilities and teaching spaces within a single coordinated design, the project provides an outstanding creative environment that prepares students for careers across the performing arts, media and broadcast industries.
The quality and innovation of the development were recognised through three North West Regional Construction Awards, including Sub-Regional Project of the Year, Client of the Year and Digital Construction Project of the Year.
Theatre Consultancy and Broadcast Studio Design for a Creative Arts Campus
