TRANSFORM BLACKHEATH HALLS 2018 Jools Holland Patron of Blackheath Halls

“As Patron, I am truly delighted to see that plans are underway to upgrade Blackheath Halls, so that it can continue to play a pivotal role in the community on so many levels and for so many age groups. In supporting the final push in the fundraising drive, you will be very much part of that transformation for all to enjoy.”

P1 “As a Patron and local myself, I know that everyone 2018-New Year: New Halls comes together at Blackheath Halls to create something cohesive and exciting – a perfect illustration of all that’s important about the word ‘community’.”

Blackheath Halls is your Halls. It has been Nicky Spence part of the landscape for over 120 years and Tenor and Patron of Blackheath Halls Community Opera continues to bring our community together, across all ages and abilities. Many of you will have witnessed the challenges the Halls has faced over the decades and will have gone the extra mile to support the building and the programmes we run here. For this we are sincerely grateful.

Keeping the Halls fit for purpose is in all our interests, to ensure that it supports the needs of the next generation. Having recently replaced the main roof of the Halls with the support of Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Viridor Credits and the Friends of Blackheath Halls, we have now been given an incredible gift, in the form of most generous lead donations of £1.5m from The Hearn Foundation and £0.5m from Arts Council England. This will enable us to transform the Halls into a space worthy of the creative talents it hosts. To fully realise this ambition, we need to raise a further £1m.

We now ask you, our loyal supporters and close friends, to contribute to our next stage of fundraising. Through these improvements we aim to ensure that Professor Anthony Bowne Blackheath Halls maintains and extends its Chair, Blackheath Halls and position at the very heart of the community Principal, Trinity Laban Conservatoire it serves so well, across the boroughs of of Music and Dance Greenwich and Lewisham and beyond.

We very much hope that you will consider being part of the campaign to Transform Blackheath Halls and that we will see you at our fundraising events. Gemma Okell We look forward to welcoming you in Director, Blackheath Halls October 2018 to the Grand Opening!

P2 P3 Be part of the future

When William Webster founded Blackheath Halls in 1895, he could scarcely Special buildings require care and attention, so that they can meet the needs of have imagined that it would still be at the centre of the community’s thriving 21st-century artists and audiences. We recognise that many of you have supported cultural life some 120 years later. An historic and much-loved Grade II-listed our efforts over the years as we upgrade, most recently as part of the Elevate and building, the Halls is part of the oldest-surviving, purpose-built cultural complex Renovate campaign to improve access to the first floor of the building. We also in London. It is also home to the stars of the future, in the shape of music thank Trinity Laban, Viridor Credits and the Friends of Blackheath Halls for their students from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, one of the world’s recent donations, which have enabled us to repair the roof. Today, we are asking leading conservatoires. These exceptionally talented young performers come you to support works that will transform Blackheath Halls into a more flexible to Blackheath Halls to rehearse and perform solo, jazz, choral, symphonic and performing arts centre, attracting the best of international and home-grown talent, operatic repertoires. and encouraging the artistic discovery of professionals, students and community members alike.

Key features of the current plans are:

Refurbishing our main space, the Great Hall Redesigning the Foyer and Bar, and enhancing all public areas Upgrading the backstage facilities to create a new suite of rooms.

In the pages that follow, you will see in more detail what we plan to do and the ways in which you can help. Perhaps there is a particular area that has given you great pleasure or special memories. Find out how you can be a part of this inspiring new era and how we will acknowledge your gift on page 12.

P4 P5 The Great Hall How you can help Name a seat At the heart of the Blackheath Halls complex is the stunning Great Hall, which hosts a wide variety of cultural events, from concerts and quiz nights to tea dances and Name a pair of Prime Seats wedding receptions, and which is much in demand as a rehearsal and recording venue by top professional orchestras. Mindful of its unique heritage, the renovations Name the Stage will sensitively transform the Hall into a high-quality, flexible space that will further increase the diversity of the events offered, for example, by attracting new theatre See p.12 for further details. and dance companies, and enrich the experience of both performers and audience:

“The Halls gave me a valuable GREAT HALL 1 A levelled and lowered stage opportunity to stretch myself artistically, 2 Retractable raked seating to improve sight lines and audience comfort with a dedicated and warm audience in attendance. That’s priceless!” 3 Improvements to acoustics, including new curtains and screens STAGE 4 Provision of new stage equipment and lighting. Samantha Crawford, soprano

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P6 P7 The Foyer and Bar

As you approach our wonderful building there will be a warm welcome for visitors and performers. In the Foyer there will be seating while you wait for guests to arrive and new signs will clearly indicate where to go for those unfamiliar with the Halls. The unified colour palette of the front of house has been chosen with the rich heritage of the building in mind, with greater prominence given to the treasured stained glass windows. The floor will feature bespoke, music-themed tiles throughout, and the corridor and the WCs will be renovated, giving a fresh, integrated feel to all the public areas.

The Bar also gets a facelift to create a larger there will be a place for that, too. A special and more flexible space in which to unwind feature is a new, informal performance area, before and after the event. There will be a providing the perfect backdrop for a relaxed brand-new extended counter enabling an and entertaining visit for all generations. improved bar service for busy events. Stylish seating areas invite you to chat with friends Funds permitting, we also hope to improve over a coffee or a glass of wine, mingle the approach to the Halls to provide a with artists to discuss the performance or welcoming external environment, with new entertain your family. You may be able to signage indicating our location, and a more view an exhibition by a local visual artist pleasant outside space to arrive in and meet or, if you need to catch up on some work, friends.

Bar

Foyer Artist’s impression of foyer

Box Office

l A transformed Blackheath Halls Supporters board (provisional location) l Décor to echo the heritage stained glass How you can help l Open space to improve the flow from the entrance l New bar Your name on the Supporters board l Modern, comfortable seating Your name on the board as a William Webster Patron l Unique contemporary floor tiles l Discrete work spaces Name the Foyer l New entrances to the Great Hall Name the Bar l Informal performance area See p.12 for further details.

P8 P9 Jimmy Carr, Esa-Pekka Salonen, N-Dubz, Gabriel Prokofiev, Jenny Eclair, Simon Backstage at the Halls Day, Adam Hills, Shappi Khorsandi, Lau, Rich Hall, Gabrielle, Dr Feelgood, The Tiger Lillies, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael McIntyre, The Hamsters, Romesh The hitherto neglected backstage area at the Halls will undergo an upgrade to Ranganathan, Jack Whitehall, The Blockheads, Acker Bilk, Edward Gardner, James offer improved spaces and facilities to the stars who walk through our doors – whether they be professional, student or community performers. The dividing wall between two of the existing rooms will be removed to allow for a single Taylor, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Jacqui Dankworth, Chris Difford, Large Dressing Room, which can be divided by a curtain as needed. A separate Artists’ Dressing Room will be created to give the conductor or principal artist a Rob Beckett, Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band, Courtney Pine, Glenn more private space in which to prepare. In addition to these areas, a Green Room fitted with sofas and occasional tables will offer a comfortable place for our Tilbrook, Russell Kane, Matthew Rose, John Humphreys, Fred MacAulay, Vladimir artists to relax pre- and post-performance. The carpet, ceiling and lighting will be upgraded, new sinks installed and the existing WCs refurbished. Jurowski, Germaine Greer, Chas & Dave, Blake Morrison, The Boomtown Rats, Jools Holland, Nikolai Demidenko, Josh Widdicombe, Sir Willard White, Ian Rankin, Wihan Quartet, Norman Lovett, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Jo Caulfield, Oysterband, Addictive TV, Paul Chowdhry, Alastair McGowan, Sir Charles Mackerras, Andy Parsons, The Wailers, Ruby Wax, Timothy West, Sean Lock, Philharmonia Orchestra, Lee Nelson, Kevin Bridges, Suzi Ruffell, Tom Allen, Mark Steel, Sir Neville Marriner, How you can help Marcus Brigstocke, Kate Rusby, Jeremy Hardy, Seann Walsh, Alabama 3, Lee Child, Large Name the Suite Dressing Snowboy, Michael Portillo, Julian Lloyd Webber, Osibisa, Jeremy Paxman, Eliza Carthy, Room (all three backstage areas) David Starkey, Björn Again, Eric Knowles, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jo Brand, Ray, Under stage Green or select one of the following storage Room Room Gelato, Monty Don, Humphrey Lyttelton, Waterson:Carthy, The Christians, Mari Name the Artists’ Dressing Room Wilson, Hayseed Dixie, The Blues Band, The Manfreds, Deborah Bonham, Pere Name the Green Room Ubu, Think Floyd, James Taylor Quartet, Bernadine Evaristo, Jason Rebello, Edmund Name the Large Dressing Room Artists’ de Waal, Kathryn Stott, Paco Peña, Will Self, Lee Stuart Evans, Clare Teal, Elkie See p.12 for further details. Dressing Room Brooks, Ruby Turner, Francis Spufford, Neil Rhind, Sir Simon Rattle, Percy Grainger, Nathan Caton, James Gilchrist, George Bernard Shaw, Samantha Crawford, Peter Barber, Sky Ingram, Claire Tomalin, Cara Dillon, Monty Don, Humphrey Lyttelton, Waterson:Carthy, The Christians, Mari Wilson, Hayseed Dixie, The Blues Band, The Manfreds, Deborah Bonham, Pere Ubu, Think Floyd, James Taylor Quartet.

P10 P11 Budget for the renovation as at December 2017

“Through the work of its wonderful staff and

Total income Estimated artistic leaders, Blackheath Halls is on a mission to date Expenditure £2,470,000 £3,470,000 to provide quality music for all. I hope we can work together to make the venue itself worthy of the outstanding experiences that take place inside it.” The Hearn Foundation £1,500,000 Great Hall refurbishment £1,565,000 Nicholas Jenkins, Glyndebourne Chorus Master; Arts Council England £500,000 Front of house, Foyer and Bar £615,000 former Musical Director, Blackheath Halls Opera Viridor Credits £235,000 Replacement of main roof £500,000 Trinity Laban Conservatoire £235,000 Lighting £250,000 Friends of Blackheath Halls £25,000 Demolition, enabling, repair and external works £200,000 WCs and corridors £170,000 Dressing Rooms and furniture £170,000 How you can help We need your help to make Blackheath Halls a vibrant, creative venue fit for the 21st century. There are several exciting opportunities for you to become a Supporter or Patron at a level of your choice:

£250+ £650+ £1,200+£650+ Supporter Supporter BlackheathSupporter Halls “For the Friends of Blackheath Halls, Patron the Halls is more than just a venue: it’s our whole raison d’être. And a great Your name will be included Plus the opportunity to name Plus an invitation to the annual Patrons on our Supporters board at a seat in the Great Hall after lunch at Trinity Laban Conservatoire or village network!” the Halls a loved one or a deserving Blackheath Halls, with the Royal Patron in individual or your choice. attendance when possible.’ Dame Joan Ruddock, Chair of the Friends of Blackheath Halls

£5,000+£650+ £10,000+£5,000+£650+ Exclusive£5,000+£650+ GreatSupporter Hall WilliamGreat WebsterSupporter Hall NamingGreatSupporter Hall Patron PatronPatron Patron

Includes the opportunity to Includes an acknowledgement as Exclusive naming opportunities for the name a pair of Prime Seats in a William Webster Patron on the Stage in the Great Hall, the Foyer, the the Great Hall. Please refer to Supporters board. William Webster Bar, and the Backstage suite (Artists’ the plan on page 7 founded Blackheath Halls in 1895. Dressing Room, Large Dressing Room Please refer to plan on page 7 and Green Room. Please ask for a private conversation (details overleaf).

P12 To be part of this next stage in our history and to join our ever-increasing Blackheath Halls family, please get in touch with us: Gemma Okell, Director of Blackheath Halls TRANSFORM E: [email protected]

Isobel Turner, Development Manager E: [email protected] BLACKHEATH HALLS

Or telephone for a private conversation to find out more: 2018 020 8318 9758.

Blackheath Halls is a registered charity (no. 287589) and a wholly- owned subsidiary of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Blackheath Halls 23 Lee Rd Blackheath London SE3 9RQ

Patron Jools Holland

Transform Blackheath Halls Donors The Hearn Foundation Arts Council England Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Viridor Credits Friends of Blackheath Halls

Design Team Architect: Woods Bagot Theatre Consultant: Carr & Angier Building Services and Acoustics: Max Fordham Structural Engineer: Elliott Wood Quantity Surveyors: Equals Electrical Designer: integratedlight Planning Consultant: Arthurs Planning & Development

With grateful thanks to Handelsbanken and Grant Saw for the production of the brochure and supporting the campaign launch