Exclusive: New Everyman Opening Date and Spring/Summer Season Announced

We’ve been waiting for ages, it seems, but the Everyman theatre is soon to open its doors to the public.

The building, which has been completely re-designed by architects Haworth Tompkins, is set to open March 2014 with a parade, people’s celebration and housewarming weekend. Features include an exterior clad in audience portraits, exposed brickwork, new bars and bistro, front-facing balcony, and new creative spaces and writers rooms; much-loved features, like the famous stage and seating structure, will remain but with a revamp.

The programme will launch with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by the building’s Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz (who described the re-launch as “moving beyond words”), and Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge, directed by bursary winner and resident Associate Director Charlotte Gwinner. A special commission, Hope Place, by playwright Michael Wynne, will depict the myths, memories and secrets of the area surrounding the Everyman.

“It’s like a superhero version of itself”, said Executive Director Deborah Aydon. “The reaction to the exterior has been really wonderful and we can’t wait to have the Everyman fully back to life, thronged with people making it their own.”

We thought you’d like a look behind the scenes: see below for a picture gallery of the progress so far…

Above and below: 105 portraits of people from across Merseyside have been immortalised in etched metal shutters, creating a unique piece of public art

Original brickwork sits alongside new, much needed access

Above: the stage and seating area can be seen before the roof was lowered earlier this year

Above, the new Everyman in November 2013, and below, how it looked in 1972

Laura Robertson, Editor

For the diary: the Everyman re-opens Spring 2014: Lights Up 1 March, Housewarming 2-8 March

See the Everyman Playhouse site for details