Dorfman Theatre to close for ‘urgent’ renovation

The National Theatre will close its studio performance space from mid-November until the middle of next year to allow for “urgent” renovations and infrastructure upgrades to be completed.

The work on the Dorfman Theatre, which includes a complete rewiring of the venue and replacement of its scenery lift, flying system, lighting, and dimming systems, is part of a major £125m overhaul of the Southbank building, dubbed Stories Start Here.

Government recently allocated £26.4m to the project in its spring budget as part of a handful of measures aimed at supporting the country's cultural sector. In addition to refurbishing the Dorfman, Stories Start Here will see repairs made to the Olivier Theatre scenery lift and the development of solutions for refurbishing its drum revolve system.

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The project will also support the creation of a National Theatre Skills Centre, which will provide training opportunities for more than 5,000 people each year.

As well as beginning work on Stories Start Here, the NT confirmed to Arts Professional that over the next few months, it will commence non-urgent remedial work on a small number of backstage areas where reinforced autoclaved concrete (RAAC) is present, noting that government investment will not be spent on this process.

'A testament to the power of theatre'

In addition to the government's investment, the remaining £100m funds required for Stories Start Here will be generated by private philanthropy, at least £42m of which has been secured so far. More than £2m was raised last week at the National Theatre’s biennial Up Next gala.

Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris called the support "extraordinary" and "a testament to the power of theatre" as well as "the importance of the National Theatre". 

Speaking about the upcoming closure of The Dorfman, he said the work would ensure the work it presents has the best possible environment in which to be brought to life for audiences.

“We remain hugely grateful for this important, visionary investment in the future of the National Theatre,” he added.

'Reduced activity'

The smallest of the NT’s three permanent stages, the Dorfman was formerly the Cottesloe before it was refurbished as part of the ambitious £85m NT Future project spearheaded by former Artistic Director Nick Hytner, reopening in autumn 2014.

During the process, its flexible performance space and auditorium were overhauled, and the venue was renamed in honour of Travelex chairman Lloyd Dorfman, who donated £10m to NT Future.

Dorfman's forthcoming closure follows the NT's decision, published in its accounts for the year ending March 2022, to reduce its activity over the subsequent four years “to ensure financial stability.”

The theatre attributed the decision to several factors, including inflation, rising energy costs, a drop in audience levels and a 5% cut to its Arts Council England investment, equivalent to £850,000 per annum. The venue receives £16.2m a year from ACE, the funding body's third-largest individual grant.