March 2010 – Carlton Theatre wins planning approval

The consent is the culmination of two years of extensive public consultation and design work, with widespread public support for the new facility. It is hoped the new Carlton Centre will act as a powerful catalyst for regeneration in the town.

The Carlton Centre will replace the existing theatre which dates from 1967 and is something of an eyesore. The new building will be of an elegant, glazed design reminiscent of the highly glazed Victorian bowling pavilion which originally stood on the site. Sure to become the ‘jewel' in The Den, Teignmouth's historic seafront green space, it will complement rather than compete with the architecture of the existing Regency crescent which forms the backdrop to The Den.

LHC has designed a flexible, open plan space with the multi-functional auditorium at the heart of the design. Ancillary functions such as the cafe, bar and box office wrap around the auditorium and create a central core.  A swathe of dramatic, fully glazed foyer space runs around three sides of the building to make the most of the magnificent coastal views. The stage will be at ground floor level, which will allow the building to be opened up to the seafront to form an open air theatre or special events space, setting The Carlton apart from other theatres in the region and providing a unique attraction in the town.

Redeveloping the site also gives the opportunity to enhance the public realm around the theatre and improve the quality of the seafront promenade. The proposals include the creation of a new walkway link running from the town to the seafront promenade, with the entrance opening out onto this colonnaded walkway. A new waterfront square extending from the theatre to the pier will also provide a venue for temporary events throughout the year.

http://www.lhc.net/project.php?id=403&cat=architecture&filter=other-places