The Howard Theatre
The Howard Theatre is simply amazing. Made possible by another incredibly generous donation from Downing Alumnus Dr Alan Howard, the multi-million pound theatre has been designed by famed architects Quinlan and Francis Terry LLP, featuring an interior in the Neo-Classical style akin to that of the college’s original architect, William Wilkins. Inside the auditorium, the decorative ceiling evokes the spirit of Regency theatre while the front-of-house curtain features a trompe-l'œil image of the college’s buildings set in a landscape of renowned architectural treasures of Greek antiquity.
Although keeping faithful to the college’s design traditions, the Howard Theatre will be the most technologically advanced theatre in Cambridge. It is fully equipped with the most up to date sound and lighting capabilities. It is also a green building boasting ground source heating and cooling together with a ‘harvesting’ system to collect rain-water for bathroom and catering use. Solar panels fitted to the roof will provide an additional environmentally friendly heating source.
The theatre is ideally sized for a variety of different productions, with a maximum capacity of 160 audience members, and disabled access with full wheelchair facilities. The auditorium boasts an innovative thrust stage, which can be used following the removal the front two rows of seats. The bespoke ruby-red leather seating has been specially made for us by the same Italian design studio that manufactures the interiors for Maserati and Lamborghini.
For more information about the Grand Opening of the Howard Theatre, click here