The original 1930s Royal Hall and Edwardian Spa Theatre have benefitted from a major refurbishment programme leading to their re-opening early in 2008.  Much of the original building fabric has been renewed, along with replacement and upgrading of all of the building services equipment.  To allow the Spa to maintain and grow it’s market position, the public areas of the Royal Hall have been extended and the back of house and stage facilities have been brought up to-date with audio-visual facilities to serve a wide range of presentation activities.

The restored flat-floored stalls and the tiered balcony of the Royal Hall provide a flexible auditorium for trade shows, conferencing and a wide variety of stage presentations with a standing capacity up to 3500. The stage location has been retained, with the rear stage nesting into the curved and glazed sea-facing wall. In front is the main stage, surrounded with an impressive balcony.

The rear stage, 11 metres wide and 5 metres deep, is provided with five power drill operated lighting/scenery bars, front curtain, stage masking, and separate curtaining to introduce or screen off the magnificent view to the sea front.  The main stage is 16 metres wide and 3 metres deep.  There is a trussing system over the stage and auditorium - Total Fabrication’s T2 (lifting capacity 1500 kilos per truss) and SMHD (lifting capacity 1000 kilos per truss).

The audio-visual provision includes a high specification L’Acoustics house PA, Allen & Heath sound mixing desk, ETC stage lighting system, moving lights by Robe and ADB, conventional luminaires by EC  and a range of video projectors.

The Edwardian Spa Theatre has undergone a similar and extensive refurbishment programme.  The restored raked seated stalls and tiered balcony provide a traditional proscenium arch auditorium for music, dance, drama and conference presentation with a capacity of 675 seats by Figueras International Seating.

A quantity of rostra can extend the stage front forward and within the auditorium floor a shallow orchestra pit is available for up to 12 players.  The stage at the proscenium is 9.3 metres wide and 11.7 metres deep.  The scenery suspension loft over the stage contains the original timber grid and galleries. At mid-span, a cross-stage steel goal post support has been inserted up to the underside of the grid.  This has enabled the installation of 25 power-flying sets for lighting and scenery, twenty 4-line 300 kg and five 4-line 500 kg sets.

Suspended under the ceiling of the auditorium, two high side lighting bridges have been added along with rear balcony and balcony front lighting positions. There are two follow spot positions at the rear of the balcony.

Consultancy team

Project management: East Riding of Yorkshire Council - Anne Chamberlain
Architectural design: East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Simon Button/Amy Hodgson
Clerk of Works: East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Alan Sherwood
Mechanical & Electrical Design: East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Glen Rawding
Sturctural Engineering: Pell Frischmann – Andrew Howland
Theatre Consultancy: ACT Consultant Services – Chris Baldwin/John Coffey
Acoustic Engineering: Acoustic Design Technology – Chris Middleton

Spa Management

General Manager – Jeremy Harthill

Contractor Team

Main Contractor: Wates Construction: Project Manager Phil Shaw
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering: Airedale
Theatre Fitout and Audio-Visual Engineering: LSI Projects Limited
Seating: Figueras International Seating