The firm has developed plans for the renovation and expansion of the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, Leicestershire for the community theatre’s client Hinckley Concordia Association.
Overview
The Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, is set within a cluster of three repurposed 19th century red brick former garment factory buildings originally built by hosiery company Murcutt, Goode & Eady. It first opened its doors in 1972 as a volunteer run community theatre organisation and is now home to 9 different performing arts groups.
The Concordia’s three building estate comprises the current 398 seat theatre, stage house and flytower, a scenic workshop, rehearsal spaces, backstage, costume and props stores, green room, bars and foyers.
The central building containing the auditorium at first floor level has been much altered and extended over time, whilst the two flanking former brick warehouses containing the theatre scene workshop, main bar and theatre studio, retain more of their original character.
Under the title Project 2030, the architects’ application includes:
1 the transformation of the theatre focusing on improving access, comfort, seating and sightlines, with a marginal seat number increase to 400+
2. the opening up of the theatrical space to reveal the huge existing timber industrial roof trusses to transform the character of the room
3. the extension and remodelling of the flytower, backstage and substage
4. improving sustainability and the energy profile of the building
5. the addition of a new frontage to the central auditorium building
6. the creation of a new public forecourt and enhanced public realm
The carefully evolved approach to scale, form, proportion, materiality, industrial heritage and context, is intended to achieve a holistic approach to the Concordia estate. It will set up the key central auditorium building with its new public forecourt, as a rejuvenated landmark within Hinckley town centre, and if consented, the strategy will finally give the Concordia the physical and architectural prominence it needs as one of the Hinckley’s key cultural assets.
Status: September 2026 : The designs have been submitted for planning approval to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
Consultants working with KWA on the project include:
