Everyman Theatre

This building has been subject to many alterations in its lifetime and has a layered history that befits the resilient and adaptable, local theatre company that is its custodian. Originally built as a chapel with a small horseshoe balcony, sometimes used for concerts and events, it then became the Hope Cinema. In 1964, as the Everyman Company took ownership, alterations and improvements were carried out to designs by locally renowned modernist practice, Nelson and Parker – J. Roy Parker, was president of the Liverpool Architecture society from 1974 -76. The building seen in the photographs here was a further re-design by Anthony Clark Partnership which saw part of the auditorium floor dug out to create an adaptable performance space with a bistro beneath the stalls [1]. The original chapel facade was, at this point, replaced by plain rendered box cantilevered above the pavement with regularly spaced vertical brick fins flanking entrance doors and windows. Whilst beloved of the city and nurturing actors through generations, the 1970s conversion was of its time, evidenced by a judicious application of quarry tiles throughout which made conversation over lunch in the bistro something of an acoustic challenge. It was redeveloped again between 2011-14 by Haworth Tompkins and recipient of the 2014 Stirling Prize. 

[1] https://database.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/1929-everyman