OVERBURY THEATRES & PERFORMANCE SPACES

Overbury is the UK’s leading fit out and refurbishment specialist.

We have built a reputation for quality projects, and for placing our clients at the heart of what we do, making us the fit out and refurbishment company of choice.

It is our belief that great projects are delivered by great teams, which is why we have a team devoted to working in education, arts, and heritage with a track record of delivering performance space, entertainment venues, and food and beverage areas.

We have completed projects in many of London’s West End theatres, in both traditional and contemporary environments, each with unique challenges ranging from working out of hours around rehearsal timetables, to undertaking construction in listed buildings.

We recently refurbished the , and we have long standing working relationships ’s Really Useful Group. We also fitted out the North Circle Bar for the .

We have a highly skilled Environmental Management Team who have helped us achieve a series of firsts on environmentally assessed projects, including the largest BREEAM Outstanding fit out to date, and the first SKA Gold rated project.

Our aim is to work with the client team; not just to understand your project’s intricate details but the reasons behind the project, its goals, targets and what constitutes a successful project for you. This knowledge is shared with all of our subcontractors to ensure they understand the bigger picture and regardless of how small their works may be, its importance within the whole. Seamless performance STUDIO STAIRCASE through practiced delivery

The experience and benefits gained by completing in excess of 300 specialist fit out projects per year enables us to offer you and your consultant team a unique, tailored service on this project.

KCL WELLCOME TRUST PUBLIC ATRIUM CAFE

UAL ROYAL ALBERT HALL UAL MACQUARIE

ROCKETSPACE KCL ARTS ED ROPES & GREY

CBRE FORA BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET PWC COSTUME PRODUCTION THEATRES THEATRES

UAL UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD UCL UAL

UAL BBC WYNDHAMS THEATRE REGENT STREET CINEMA

ARTS ED UAL UAL

ARTS ED UAL KCL KCL Royal Albert Hall

Project North Circle Bar Location London Size 100 sq ft Contract Period 15 weeks

The North Circle bar of the iconic grade I listed building was substantially altered and refurbished to increase serving capacity.

Works were carried out during the 122nd season of The Proms, where 90 concerts took place over 8 weeks. Orchestra rehearsals in the auditorium began on the 4th day of the project, and continued until 7 days before completion. Because of the daily rehearsals, there were strict working restrictions for 10 weeks of the 11 week programme. For 5 hours of each 9 hour working day the delivery team had to ensure there were no noisy works. At the end of every working day protection was removed, the site was cleaned and the workers would vacate the building by 5pm before the public entered at 5.10pm for the evening performances.

During construction the Royal Albert Hall continued to be occupied by patrons, artists and staff, so the visual impact of the project was a concern. To minimise the visibility of the works, discreet hoardings were installed that seamlessly blended into the surroundings. Hoarding boards were painted to match the decorations of the surrounding walls and featured graphics of gilded frames that matched those displayed around the building.

The arrangement of the existing bar was changed from a single counter to two facing counters. There were also repairs and decorations to the grade I listed ceiling and the laying of a 5,800 piece bespoke tiled floor. Design information for the 147 year old building was understandably incomplete, therefore the team’s flexible and collaborative skills were regularly realised. The team managed to negotiate obstacles during the job’s process and complete the work without delay or disruption.

Logistics were strictly managed because of the lack of on-site storage. There was no access to the loading bay so all deliveries had to be made before 12pm, unloaded outside the building entrance and taken directly to the work areas. Given the level of restrictions that the team worked under, it was testament to their professionalism that they completed the works on time, to the highest quality and without a single complaint.

Bloomsbury Theatre

Client University College London Location London Contract Period 36 weeks

As part of UCL’s cutting-edge revamp of Bloomsbury Theatre, the 1960s Brutalist landmark building - famous for its innovative comedy, theatre, music and dance – Overbury expertly renovated and upgraded its 541-seat auditorium, stage and fly-tower. The modern makeover gives student societies and productions the full benefits of a 21st century theatre and creates the opportunity for collaboration between academics, artists, performers, directors and companies.

The project encompassed the reinstatement of the main auditorium, maintaining the existing volume, arrangement, and functionality, with upgrades to meet current compliance requirements. The upgrades provided an improved foyer and bar, dressing rooms and WC facilities, as well as updated backstage and front of house. The works included replacing technical infrastructure with modern state of the art stage engineering facilities, including a new orchestra pit lift and specialist theatre lighting and controls. We also replaced all fixtures and fittings, services, plant, ventilation systems, acoustic doors and ceilings.

During the course of the Theatre refurbishment, all of the surrounding areas were fully occupied by either students, academics or were the subject of construction work. Overbury successfully delivered the 36 weeks project without disruption by diligently planning and sequencing the works, ensuring all live and transient services were maintained, while liaising with a wide variety of stakeholders.

As the project was being designed in a 3D environment, but with the absence of an existing model of the buildings structure, additional point cloud surveys were utilised during the strip out and enabling phase to assist in developing the building services model and co-ordination with structure.

This was then supplemented with on-site co-ordination between Overbury and the architect to overcome the remaining clashes and in order to drive the construction programme. The resultant 2D site information was then fed back into the designer BIM models, federated to provide the Client with a finished and fully co-ordinated model, including all relevant COBIE data, for their future use.

This project achieved Ska HE Gold, the highest possible sustainable higher education fit-out rating.

Regent Street Cinema

Client University of Westminster Location London Contract Period 50 weeks

Overbury worked with the University of Westminster to reopen Britain’s oldest cinema 120 years after showing its first film.

The art deco features from the cinema’s 1920s refit have been restored, as has the building’s domed ceiling and the original 1936 John Compton organ.

Our challenge was to conserve the interior and maintain original features whilst upgrading to ensure that it functions as a working cinema and multifunctional auditorium.

A new steel structure was installed that extended the raked balcony seating down to the stalls. This made space underneath for a new bar, toilets and foyer.

There are new electrical and mechanical services throughout including a new AHU to the roof space.

Adelphi Theatre

Client Really Useful Group Location London Contract Period 19 weeks

The famous required a complete refurbishment of the foyer bar and WCs, significant structural works to the Jessie Mathews bar, a strip out of the auditorium, alongside repairs, decorations and services works. Finishes were coordinated to match Ernest Schaufelberg’s original 1930s Art Deco interior.

The client’s cornerstone was the show business adage “the show must go on”. This became a literal requirement when the programme duration was reduced by a third to accommodate the live performances booked in after our appointment.

Our works had to be arranged around the associated rehearsals and sound checks. The team’s flexible approach enabled the project to be completed without having to resort to extensive out of hours working.

Client Really Useful Group Location London Size 6900 sq ft Contract Period 29 weeks

The works at the London Palladium were described by owner Andrew Lloyd Webber as “the beginning of the biggest programme of refurbishment and change in the Palladium’s 100 year history”.

Demolition works were started during the last two weeks of “Sister Act”. The final four weeks of construction were carried out while rehearsals were underway for “The Wizard of Oz”. In addition to this, works were temporarily halted seven weeks into the project to ensure The Royal Variety Show went ahead without disruption.

The newly renovated facilities understate the scope of structural remodelling carried out in a very short time frame and in very constrained spaces incorporationg many listed features.

A new box office was created and the existing box office and disabled entrances from Argyll Street adapted to suit the new layout. Three new function spaces were formed and a new lift installed. The central feature was a new oculus situated directly over a new spiral staircase linking to the Variety Bar at the rear of the stalls. The implementation of this included considerable alterations to the exiting envelope. An existing hospitality area was converted into much needed toilet facilities and a new entrance formed from the Variety Bar into the stalls.

ArtsEd

Client Arts Educational Schools London Location London Contract Period 31 weeks

An Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation theatre was transformed from a space seating 150 to a 200 capacity, state-of the-art venue that matched the Arts Educational Schools’ (ArtsEd’s) high caliber teaching to the reality of the West End stage. The auditorium was overhauled to provide more flexible and increased stage space, a new control room, dressing rooms, rehearsal studios and a new ventilation system.

The theatre fit out was part of a much larger project undertaken for ArtsEd to provide new dressing rooms, wardrobe storage, student common room, media editing suites and reception/ foyer. New installations included on-stage flying equipment, specialist stage lighting, additional theatre levels and a piano lift.

ArtsEd is situated in a residential area and consists of four schools which remained fully operational throughout the works. Jane Harrison, ArtsEd Principal, said: “Despite the major scope of the works Overbury worked with us at every step to minimise the impact on our students and our neighbours. It’s been a much more enjoyable process than I ever could have imagined!”

Theatre Royal

Client LW Theatres Location Drury Lane, London Contract Period 20 weeks

The Grand Saloon, North and South Rooms, grand staircases and rotundas at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane were restored to their original 1812 Regency décor. To ensure authenticity, the Really Useful Group engaged heritage consultants to research the history of the Theatre’s development.

Original paint scrapings were analysed to replicate the Georgian colours as closely as possible. Special installations included handcrafted chandeliers, manually applied gold- leaf and hand painted marble. Works to the lobby included lighting and French polishing.

The project began as ‘Shrek the Musical’ was closing and completed in time for the opening of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Works were carried out while the Theatre was occupied but without disrupting rehearsals. Andrew Lloyd-Webber commented, ‘It’s been very quick, it was worked out like a military campaign. We knew we had a short amount of time between Shrek and Charlie’. The restoration gained full approval of English Heritage, The Theatres Trust and Westminster City Council’s conservation team.

Soho Theatre

Location London Contract Period 8 weeks

The conversion of an existing basement into a new comedy club, incorporating a new bar, kitchen facilities, a new stairwell and stage and supporting light rigging.

The theatre is on Dean Street in Soho which is busy throughout the day and late into the evening so deliveries had to be at specific times and carried out quickly and efficiently.

The space has provided a whole new venue for the theatre where they host comedy night and have also increased revenue through successful private hire. Camberwell Campus

Client University of the Arts London Location London Size 71,000 sq ft Contract Period 38 weeks

Our fit out and refurbishment was the final phase of the £62m redevelopment of UALs Camberwell Campus. The works took place in the newly constructed academic building and the existing linked 1970s block.

The project was a fast track fit out with 22 sectional completions, where the challenge was to ensure this last stage of works was completed to allow the new campus to open to staff and students for the start of the 2017 academic year.

Works were conducted around the university timetable, including exams, and a sympathetic engagement plan ensured studies were not disrupted.

The fit out of the new build provided a double height lecture theatre, canteen and kitchen areas, 3D workshop, library, fine art gallery and 3 floors of Cat A future use space.

The existing building had extensive external works including a façade refurbishment with new windows and brick cleaning. Hard landscaping was renewed, and a new main campus entrance was created. We worked closely with Transport for London to obtain the required licence and permits for the public realm works. The campus abuts a busy A road with strict delivery times and limited parking available, and the pavement in front of the building was renewed as part of the contract to harmonise it with the new landscaping.

Internal refurbishment works included a revamp of the ceramics workshops, ground floor, first floor staff offices and student centre, and new third floor student studio space. A main reception was created that linked to the new academic building.

The project achieved BREEAM Excellent.

Hackney Empire

Client Preservation Trust Location Euston, London Contract Period 12 weeks

The iconic Hackney Empire music hall was built in 1901 and is a Grade II* listed building. Restorative works, funded by Arts Council England, were carried out to safeguard the external fabric of the building and improve its energy performance.

Works included external stone repairs and cleaning, roof repairs, renovation of windows and doors and upgrade of the building management system. New fire shutters and low energy lighting were installed.

Works started on site in July and completed on time in October. The renovation provided the platform for a more extensive internal refurbishment programme planned for the following year.

King’s College London

Client West Wing Student’s Union Location London Size 1076 sq ft Contract Period 25 weeks

Counting House on the Guy’s Campus is a Grade II listed building that houses the KCL student union bar and nightclub. The space was altered and refurbished to make it suitable for continued use by the student union.

Internal non-load-bearing partitions were demolished and redundant services stripped out. During the works it was discovered there was no concrete slab at the fi rst fl oor level, so we designed and installed a double layered fi re rated acoustic ceiling. The Planning Authority forced design changes which we accommodated without impacting the programme.

New sanitaryware was fitted along with extract fans in the toilets and showers. The activity rooms and the comms room had new cooling systems. New distribution boards, lighting control panels, power, lighting, data, fire alarm and audio visual we also installed. CONTACT US

Bob Banister Managing Director

[email protected] 07721 443 320

Emma Keyse Business Development Manager for Education, Arts & Leisure

[email protected] 07813 141 723