Theatre Consultancy for Wells Maltings heritage theatre refurbishment project
Wells-next-the-Sea, a small coastal town in North Norfolk, experiences a dramatic increase in population during the summer months. After years of planning, fundraising, and community engagement, a major extension and refurbishment programme began in 2016 to transform the Grade II listed building into a modern cultural hub for the town and surrounding area.
Drama by Design was appointed as theatre consultants, working closely with the design team to create a technically sophisticated performance space while respecting the building’s historic fabric. Our role included the design of all specialist theatre systems, ensuring the venue could support a wide range of uses including live performance, cinema screenings, and community events.
The theatre lighting system was designed entirely with LED fixtures to provide flexibility, energy efficiency, and high-quality performance. A variety of Chauvet fixtures, including spots and fresnels, were integrated alongside ETC Cyc Floods. All lighting is flown from bars suspended from the restored wooden beams of the maltings roof, using custom-made clamps that fit around the beams without penetrating or damaging the listed structure.
Two distinct audio systems were installed to meet the differing needs of cinema and live performance. A QSC speaker system was provided for cinema presentations, while an LD System Stinger system supports live theatre performances. An Allen & Heath QU24 console, connected via category cabling to remote I/O boxes, allows complete operational flexibility, enabling the console to be positioned anywhere within the space as needed.
The venue is equipped with a full DCI-compliant cinema system, featuring a Barco Alchemy projector fed from a Lansat satellite delivery system. The cinema system can also be used for theatre performances or presentations via HDMI inputs located throughout the theatre. An electric roller projection screen mounted on a winch allows projection height to be adjusted to suit the performance or presentation.
All specialist systems — including theatre and cinema AV, houselights, and control interfaces — are managed via an Extron touch panel. This allows quick, intuitive operation and rapid reconfiguration of lighting, audio, and video systems to accommodate different performance types and audience requirements.
Through careful design, close collaboration with the project team, and a focus on integrating modern technical capabilities within a historic structure, Drama by Design helped deliver a versatile, professional-standard theatre that serves as a cultural focal point for Wells-next-the-Sea and the wider community.
