Courtyard, Hereford facts for kids
The Courtyard
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| Address | Edgar Street Hereford United Kingdom |
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| Capacity | 400 seats on 2 levels (main house) 120 seats (studio) |
| Production | Various |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Architect | Glenn Howells |
The Courtyard Centre for the Arts is a fun theatre and arts place in Hereford, England. It's on Edgar Street, a little outside the city center. It was built between 1997 and 1998. Before that, an older theatre called The New Hereford Theatre stood there. That theatre used to be a swimming pool!
The Courtyard puts on its own shows, like a funny pantomime (a play with music and jokes). It also features plays by its youth theatre and a community group. Plus, big shows from around the country come to perform here. It's also a main spot for the yearly Borderlines Film Festival.
Contents
Building the Courtyard Arts Centre
The old New Hereford Theatre was a swimming pool that had been changed into a theatre. But it was getting old and needed to be replaced. Plans for a new building started in 1993. The project got a huge boost when the Lottery Commission gave £3.75 million to help pay for it.
Who Designed the Courtyard?
The beautiful building, made of glass and wood, was designed by Glenn Howells. He was chosen after a special competition for architects. This competition was run by RIBA Competitions.
When Did the Courtyard Open?
The Courtyard Centre for the Arts officially opened on September 18, 1998. Jonathan Stone, who was the artistic director at the time, cut the ribbon. The main theatre inside, called the Main House, looks like an old Elizabethan Courtyard or Inn Yard Theatre. This is how the building got its name!
What Can You Do at The Courtyard?
The Courtyard has a Main House theatre and a smaller Studio theatre. Both of these can also be used as cinemas to show movies. There's also an art gallery where you can see cool artworks.
Rooms and Spaces
The building has two meeting rooms, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. On the second floor, there's a special room for rehearsals or dance classes. Together, the two theatres can seat about 520 people. The Studio theatre can also be used for talks. For example, David Cameron launched a political campaign there in December 2005.
Cafe and Events
There's also a Cafe-Bar where you can get food and drinks. This cafe often hosts free events. These include 'Jazz Cafe' for music lovers, 'Sunday Social' for a relaxed time, and 'Open Mike Night' where people can perform.
Visitors and Recognition
Between 1998 and 2004, about 1.2 million people visited The Courtyard. That's a lot of visitors! In 1999, people described the building as "ultra-cool" and "rigorously modern."
The Courtyard has some famous supporters, called patrons. These include the well-known actor Sir Derek Jacobi and the funny comedian Jo Brand.
