Historic Areas – a photographic tour with Mike Hume

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Just before Christmas we had a visit from Mike Hume, a Scottish ex-pat now based in Los Angeles, who has a wealth of experience in architectural photography of historic theatres around the world (for more information and some amazing photographs see his website at www.historictheatrephotos.com).

He has taken some beautiful photos of the bare auditorium, stage machinery and the paint frame before any of the major interventions happen in these spaces. These are magical spaces at the heart of the Citizens Theatre that we want to preserve the look and feel of as much as possible, whilst allowing vital work to be carried out that makes the building fit for the future.

These photographs show the auditorium still largely untouched except for the seating that has been removed.

From back of the stalls looking up at the proscenium
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
From auditorium left box looking back into the auditorium with all the seats taken out at stalls and circle level
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
From upper gallery seating – old cinema style seats and technical positions still to be removed
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
the statues above the proscenium in the main auditorium
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)

He also got in to capture some of the more inaccessible spaces that the public rarely get to see.

the loft-space above the main auditorium – harness lines criss-cross the space to enable Citizens Staff to safely walk above the plaster ceiling – improved handrails and walkways are planned for this space
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
underneath the back of the stage looking at the top of one of the historic stage bridges that used to rise up and down through the stage as part of the performances
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
historic drums and shafts down in the sub-basement that used to drive the three stage bridges up and down
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
a view from the flyfloor looking across the area above the stage to the underside of the historic timber grid above
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
a view above the timber grid in the apex of the roof above the stage – the Victorian machinery – two drums and shafts that used to be used for flying scenery
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)
historic paint frame with original paint frames, cast iron winches, and drum and shafts above – temporary sheeting in to strengthen floor whilst crack repairs are carried out
(Photograph – Mike Hume – www.historictheatrephotos.com)

Work on these historic areas of the building will start over the next couple of months, beginning with the temporary propping of the paint frame to allow for the demolition of the adjacent derelict building, then on to piling for the new fly-tower in the basement of the stage-house (both challenging and complex pieces of work that I will cover in future posts).

Mike will be back later in the project to take some more photographs of the work in progress. I can’t wait to see what images he manages to capture next time!