Willmott Dixon has been awarded a £26.75m construction contract to restore the Grade II listed Art Deco theatre in Stockton-on-Tees
Originally built in 1935, the Grade II listed Art Deco theatre played host to iconic acts like Buddy Holly, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones but closed in 1997 after a period as a bingo hall.
It will now be updated to provide a modern 3,000 plus capacity live music and comedy venue expected to generate £18m a year in visitor spend for the town.
Procured through Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, Willmott Dixon was appointed by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to restore the Grade II listed Art Deco theatre after the council received a £4.5m grant through the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Enterprise Scheme.
The project follows Willmott Dixon’s refurbishment of nearby Darlington’s Hippodrome in 2017 as well as its recent appointment to renew the iconic Civic Halls in Wolverhampton.
In addition to transforming the Grade II listed Art Deco theatre, which will be operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group for 25 years following completion, Willmott Dixon is also renovating the neighbouring 153 High Street building, a former bridal wear shop, which will provide box office and café bar facilities for the Globe as well as operating as a standalone venue with a small performance area.
At the Globe, the scope of Willmott Dixon’s role includes detailed work to improve the audience experience and ensure it is fit to meet the demands of today’s music and comedy acts. A key aspect will be to preserve its landmark Art Deco heritage and care is being taken to remove and store historic parts of the building such as windows at the front and internal doors.
Mouldings have been taken of the ornate ceiling details so that new profiles can be cast as part of the restoration.
Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton Council cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said: “The Globe will be the biggest live entertainment venue between Newcastle and Leeds and will pull an estimated £18million into the local economy every single year.
“We’re ambitious for the borough. If you want to achieve big things you’ve got to deliver big projects. There’s so much public love for the Globe and this is a once in a generation project to bring it back.”
Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “It is fantastic to be working on the restoration of the Globe Theatre, breathing new life into a really iconic building for the community. We look forward to seeing it become a cultural hub once again for future generations to enjoy.
Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, added: “I am absolutely thrilled to see the council bringing an historic building like the Globe, back to its’ former glory
“Willmott Dixon have a wealth of experience in restoring heritage buildings and importantly, through our framework, the local population will benefit in a variety of ways, ranging from community engagement initiatives, local business involvement in the project as well as being able to enjoy a high quality music venue that’s fit for the future.”
