E15 DRAMA SCHOOL

The University of Essex acquired a substantial complex of redundant church buildings in the Clifftown area of Southend to create a theatre school for its successful East 15 department of Theatre and Drama Studies.

In order to meet the University’s tight timescales, driven by the academic year, the project was run on a fast track basis – a challenging task with a listed building. Our design enabled the major spaces to be retained intact. Although public performances are catered for, the building’s primary use is for education – the varied curriculum includes fight choreography and circus skills such as trapeze.