JUL 01 TO OCT 01 – THE WORK TO RE-OPEN AND RE-LICENSE THE THEATRE
• Health and Safety work to license the theatre, including much rubbish clearance• Refurbishment of all dressing rooms
• Redecoration of main foyer, dress circle and stalls bars
JUL 02 TO OCT 02 – FIRST STEPS OF RESTORATION
• New heating system• Motorised safety curtain
• Redecoration and provision of extra ladies toilets
MAY 03 TO AUG 03 – STABILISING THE THEATRE WITH AN H&S GRANT
• Implementation of proper certification for all mechanical and electrical systems• Improved husbandry and removal of redundant equipment
• Removal of asbestos from safety curtain guides and sealing of asbestos on rear surface
• Renewal of stage lighting cabling in auditorium and upgrade to 26 lanterns
• Replacement of old stage lighting dimmers with new
SEP 03 TO JUN 04 – FURTHER H&S WORK TO IMPROVE THE THEATRE’S CONDITION
• Strengthening to wooden access ladders and provision of safety hoops
• Clearance of silt and debris from under stage well to allow proper drainage
• Improvements to security system with additional sensors and CCTV surveillance
• Repair of neon “Kings” sign on tower front
• Repair of rotten window in Irving Room and guttering above Albert Road Entrance
• Refurbishment of canopy in Exmouth Road and bay window above
• Strengthening of main entrance portico
• Made access to roof void safe and refurbished auditorium chandelier winches
JUN 04 TO SEP 04 – WORK POSSIBLE DUE TO THE THEATRE’S SUCCESSFUL YEAR
• Repairs to roofs and brickwork to prevent water ingress• Minor works to tower to prevent further decay
• Repainted lower walls of tower
• Refurbished box office and improved layout
• Provided an audio system for the hearing impaired and a small PA system
• Replacement of IT network cabling and improvements to box office ticketing system
• Refurbishment of old office as a hospitality room
• Tidying of exterior décor and improvements to floodlighting and marketing displays
• Repair and cleaning of main house curtains
• Improve stage flying system with 6 new winch bars for stage lighting
• Removed rotten orchestra pit floor and put back to proper position
OCT 04 TO JUL 05 – SMALL PROJECTS WHILE THEATRE OPEN FOR SHOWS
• Replaced telephone system• Refurbished old carpenter’s store as a new office
• Redecorated dress circle ladies toilets
• Purchase of a combined network printer and photocopier
AUG 05 TO NOV05 – THE FIRST YEAR OF PROJECTS WITH THE PCC CAPITAL GRANT
• Installation of a powered flying system over the stage
• Refurbishment of the dress circle gentlemen’s toilets
• Refurbishment of some dress circle doors, including restoration of the original leaded glass
• Installation of some automatic fire door catches
• Further improvements to the IT network and box office ticket system
• Purchase of a new lighting desk
MAY 06 TO FEB 07 - THE SECOND YEAR OF PROJECTS WITH THE PCC CAPITAL GRANT
• Replacement of the advertising sign over the portico• Refurbishment of the Exmouth Road Elevation of the building
• Refurbishment of further internal doors, including restoration of the original leaded glass
• Installation of some automatic fire door catches
• Repair of the floor of the Irving Room bar and putting the room back in use
• Redecoration of the stalls bar
JUN 07 TO SEP 07– THE CENTENARY YEAR OF PROJECTS WITH THE PCC GRANT
• Restoration of the main auditorium• Improvements to the architectural lighting of the auditorium
• Improvements to the stage lighting and performance sound positions in the auditorium
• Further refurbishment of internal doors, including restoration of the original leaded glass
• Restoration of the gallery
• Redecoration of the gallery toilets
• Redecoration of the level access corridor to the stalls
• Removal of wallpaper to reveal the Art Nouveau tiling at stalls level
• Plaster coving in Stage bar replicated by Mr John Fowler
JUN 08 TO SEP 08 - THE FOURTH YEAR OF PROJECTS WITH THE PCC CAPITAL GRANT
• Installation of the second phase of powered flying• Restoration of the dress circle bar
• Refurbishment of the shower and toilets on the top floor of the dressing room block
• Repairs to the east wall of the stage house
• Pillars in Stage Bar “marbled” by Mr Glen Filer
OCT 08 to MAR 09 - THE FIFTH YEAR OF PROJECTS WITH THE PCC CAPITAL GRANT
• Restoration of the tower on the corner of Albert Road and Exmouth Road. This is the main entrance to the theatre, and the work included:• GRP replica cupola fitted to the top of the tower
• GRP replica “Aurora” lady statue fitted to the top of the cupola, including a fibreoptic lit torch
• GRP replica lions fitted on the parapets
• Irving Room windows replaced with replicas of the original, including the painted glass
• General repairs and maintenance of the fabric of the tower
• Redecoration of the tower
APR 09 to DEC 09 - THE SIXTH YEAR OF PROJECTS WITH THE PCC CAPITAL GRANT
• Bar front and “wedding cake” in the Stage Bar stained and grained by Ms Gillian Stevenson• Box Doors restored and recovered by Mr Peter Jackman
• All boxes decorated and wallpapered by the volunteer working parties
• Dress Circle promenade and corridors redecorated by the volunteer working parties
• Upper Circle staircase redecorated by the volunteer working parties
• Stalls corridor glazed bricks uncovered by the volunteer working parties
• Stalls corridor redecorated by the NATS Project Management Team
• “Kings Theatre” sign on east side of Albert Road staircase block repainted by muralist, Mr James Porter
DEC 09 to JUL 12 – THE CROCUS PROJECT
• Restoration of the Irving Room as both the upper circle bar, and also an education space for the “Crocus Project”• Redecoration and smartening up of corridors, staircase and public areas
• Tower Room and Long Bar rewired and laced for modern IT and other facilities
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