Hagley Community College
The traditional 1950s school hall was converted into a theatre. Dance and theatre facilities have been developed to provide programmes for students beyond year 13. However, the hall adaptation and dance studio have features that could be applied to facilities for school curriculum programmes.
The hall adaptation was simpler than it would be for some school halls because the body of this hall had solid brick walls rather than windows. The flat-roofed former administration area houses the entrance lobby and public facilities for the new theatre.
Hagley theatre.The main body of the hall has become an intimate theatre that would work well as a teaching space for senior drama classes. The timber floor was covered with more durable and adaptable hardboard-style flooring and curtains fitted around the room. A flat ceiling of softboard tiles was installed within the high gable roof to improve acoustics, and painted black. Tiered seating is movable, but generally remains in its 100-seat format, and a large control box is at the top of one end of the seating.
Drama studio.The former school hall stage has been walled off along the line of the proscenium arch to become a drama studio. The floor of the stage has been retained, providing sprung flooring and storage underneath (accessible from the theatre).
Dance studio.Elsewhere on the campus, a former engineering classroom has been converted into a dance studio. Technology rooms were generally larger than standard classrooms and provide sufficient ceiling height. The original timber flooring has been covered with a layer of particle board and topped with tarquette (a linoleum-type, non-slip floor covering) providing a good dance surface over a well sprung base.
Temporary changing areas.Because the room has no changing facilities, curtains were hung on 'U'-shaped suspended tracks to provide temporary changing areas within the main space.
To find out more, contact Hagley Community College.