Enhancing Stephenson Memorial Hall

Over the last few months, major regeneration work to transform Stephenson Memorial Hall has been rapidly progressing. 

The multi-million pound project will create an exciting new heritage and performing arts venue with an enhanced theatre, expanded museum, a café bar and education and community facilities.

In the auditorium the backstage steelwork, which will equip performances with modern equipment, has been installed and work to create a new stage has begun. 

At the back of the building the new extension, which will provide better facilities for performers, is almost complete, with all brickwork now in place and a new roof being installed. 

In the new museum spaces, which will be on the top floor of the building, works have been focussed on insulating the roof and dividing the spaces. When complete it will include a high-tech gallery which will allow us to host travelling exhibitions from other museums. 

The new entrance to the building has been opened, with stairs and lift access, to ensure all visitors can access every part of the building. This new entrance is actually the original building entrance and sits underneath the tower on Corporation Street. 

Above Corporation Street work on the new link gallery extension has been progressing well. This new structure will add education and community spaces, but also serves as additional space for visitors during theatre intermissions. 

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This is an ambitious and exciting project that will help elevate our town by attracting more visitors and providing enhanced facilities for our residents. Works are progressing well but as with any project of this nature there are always little things which add unexpected complications, but we are working with our project team to manage these and limit the impact on our reopening as much as possible. 

“I’m excited for us to be able to welcome visitors back to the building next year. Visitors will see a real change and will have the opportunity to appreciate the many heritage details that we have worked hard to preserve and enhance.”
Many of the favourite features of visitors, like the decorative panelling in the auditorium, are being preserved and we’re making the most of some of the building’s hidden details – including the stunning stained glass windows which are being celebrated as   a feature that guests can enjoy.

The project also includes significant new additions like lifts to help improve accessibility and a new ventilation system to improve the comfort of theatre visitors.