Hundreds celebrate as £2.4 Ayr Gaiety restoration concludes
Hundreds of people took to the streets to celebrate the reopening of the much loved, B listed Gaiety in Ayr after a £2.4 million renovation and remodeling project led by Austin-Smith:Lord’s conservation team on behalf of the Ayr Gaiety Partnership concluded.
Austin-Smith:Lord delivered both the architecture and interior design of the refurbishment of The Gaiety, which is one of Scotland’s oldest theatres.
The £2.4 million makeover backed by Creative Scotland, South Ayrshire Council and Heritage Lottery Fund saw the historic Main Auditorium, which dates back to 1902, restored and transformed into a fully modernised theatre, retaining all its iconic features.
With new seating and configurations the theatre is now more accessible than ever with an increased number of wheelchair spaces available throughout the Stalls section and improved sightlines.
In addition to investment in new lighting and sound equipment, a brand-new stage has been installed and will play host to national and international performers in the coming months.
Work also included upgrading of the ticket sales area and restyling of the entrance and foyer and remodelling of the kitchen and additional back of house facilities.
As part of The Gaiety’s mission to become ‘the best wee Green Theatre in Scotland’ the Partnership also invested in a new ventilation and heating system to dramatically reduce carbon emissions.
The project to restore the theatre to her former glory took eight years of planning and raising funds, in which time the Partnership garnered national support from a wide range of funders, individuals and actors alike.
Gaiety Chief Executive Jeremy Wyatt said: “Over eight years ago, Ayr Gaiety Partnership dreamt about this day. I am overwhelmed and delighted by the response we’ve received from our local and national partners and members of the community who continue to support us as we step into our next chapter”
George Reynolds, Director at Austin-Smith:Lord, added: “We are thrilled and honoured to have played a role in the revitalisation of Ayrshire’s crown jewel. It’s wonderful to see the Grand Old Lady lift the curtain on her next chapter and we look forward to seeing her continue to engage and entertain audiences of all ages for many more years to come.”
The full team includes:
Client: Ayr Gaiety Partnership
Main Contractor: Worksmart Contracts
Interior Design Consultant: Julia Grant
Structural Engineer: Grossart Associates
M&E Engineers: Irons Foulner Consulting
Quantity Surveyor: Armour Construction Consultants
CDM/Principal Designer Adviser: Armour Construction Consultants
