Playhouse, Whitley Bay

The Playhouse stands on Marine Avenue in Whitley Bay, a seaside town in Tyne and Wear. It is a modern 630-seat theatre built for plays, musicals and local performances. The building has a glass foyer, a box office, a bar and front-of-house facilities. Inside, the auditorium was redesigned and new rooms were added for companies and choruses. The theatre is part of a £64 million regeneration plan for the town. The refurbishment in 2009 turned the Playhouse into a centre for local arts. North Tyneside Council led the work to make it a community hub. Local drama groups and artists now use the space regularly for their productions. The theatre is managed by SMG, which also runs Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena and Tyne Theatre. A time capsule filled by Rid Stokoe preserves memorabilia from the Playhouse’s past. Visitors enter through the glass foyer where the box office and bar are located. Rolf Wojciechowski’s artwork lines the North corridor as a reminder of the reopening. The auditorium seats 630 under its new design, with improved sightlines and acoustics. The company room and chorus rooms provide space for rehearsals and smaller events. Outside, the building sits among the town’s coastal setting, close to the seafront.