Contracts are signed

Colin Wilson, Gordon McLaughlin (Unit Construction), Alan Hall (Chairman of CDS), Penny Phillips and Peter Phillips participate in the signing of the contract for the restoration and extension of Prospect Playhouse - 2005-08-24

Ivan's damage

Remnant of the rear stage wall with steel cladding ripped away. This wall will be knocked down and replace by one 6 feet further back.

Footings are poured

Large concrete footings with reinforcing steel rods are poured to take and spread the weight of the new walls which will exceed 28 feet in height.

Stage left extension

A Unit Construction worker cuts into the existing wall adjacent to the stage door in preparation for pouring the connecting concrete for the extension.

Auditions on temporary stage

Penny Phillips held auditions for "All Over But The Shooting". To accomodate limited performances, the front of the stage was extended into the auditorium and some seating was removed. A temporary back-wall was erected and the sections of missing roof were covered with tarpaulins.

Footings are dug

Footings for the foundations of the new walls of the stage are put in place by Unit Construction worker bees.

Steelwork

Steel is laid into the bed where the foundation for the stage extension will be poured.

Foundation in place

Steel rises from the foundation through each ensuing level of blocks forming the new walls.

Onward, upward

The wall blocks are taken up to stage floor height.

Pouring the stage floor

After the gap between the old and new wall has been filled, reinforcing steel is added and the new stage floor is poured.

Props Room

The walls of the Props room upstairs are repaired and painted so that hundreds of costumes and props can be moved back in to free up the rehearsal room.

Final belting

The SL wall reaches final belting height and steel is made ready for the final pour. The steel will reinforce the wall to accept the loads imposed by the roof beams from which, in turn, will hang the lighting bars and other aerial equipment.

Stage door is dwarfed

The new wall SL towers over the stage door entrance. A major steel girder will form the link between the SL and SR wall at this point.

Electrical overhaul

Staff from Phillips Electrical must rerun miles of wiring compromised by Hurricane Ivan. This goes on while the stage extensions are done.

Auditorium ceiling

Peter Phillips sets up the production system for spraying the new ceiling tiles black. They will lay in the sun to touch dry and then be stood up all over the theatre to cook dry.

Blackfoot wash-down

Peter Pasold washes off Rick Glass's feet to remove layers of black spray dust from the spraying of the ceiling tiles.

Tile kiln

An area about 1/10th larger than the auditorium was covered with drying tiles - they proved a great attraction for baby grasshoppers who quickly got the picture and moved on.

Plastering the extension

Workers made quick work of plastering the stage extension, despite the height. Note the edge of the new roof peeking out over the wall.

The old and the new

This image shows the old roof supports and roof dominated by and enclosed within the new walls and roof.

Backstage

Blue tarpaulin forms the backdrop of the temporary stage. Once the new roof is complete and the stage rear doors are installed, the old roof and supports will be removed and the temporary stage backdrop. Then the new stage floor constructed of ply set on rubber will be installed.

Governor Jack at the re-opening ceremony

The auditorium laid out for the re-opening ceremony

Peter Pasold, Alan Hall and Peter Phillips

Ian Morgan, Peter Pasold, Alan Hall and Peter Phillips with Ann Pasold in the bar

Chairman Alan Hall greets Governor Stuart Jack

Linda Rayner and Mike Austin

Chairman Alan Hall, HE The Governor Stuart Jack and Theatre Manager Peter Phillips

Chairman Alan Hall delivers the re-opening address

HE The Governor Stuart Jack cuts the ribbon on the auditorium doors