Play to the Crowd has celebrated the completion of the bold, exciting new artwork at Theatre Royal Winchester, designed to brighten up the building and provide a colourful welcome to audiences and visitors.
The artwork, entitled Inside Outside: Art on the Street, was created to ‘bring the inside outside’, celebrate the creativity, imagination, colour and joy of the live performance seen on stage, spark playful curiosity, and encourage conversation.
The artwork, which bridges the gap between Theatre Royal Winchester and The Arc across Tower Street, takes inspiration from the rich heritage of the building and features the seats, the proscenium arch framing the stage, and spotlights found inside the traditional auditorium and is inspired by the colours of the auditorium.
The artwork was designed by the award-winning Pea Green Design Studio, which is based in Winchester and has over 30 years experience transforming hospitals, schools, libraries and other public spaces through bespoke design.
Installation of the artwork began in late August, with finishing touches made in October, making Theatre Royal Winchester ready to pop with colour ahead o fa grey winter and complimenting the start of a vibrant panto season. Next year, during the spring and summer months, the artwork will act as a colourful seating area outside the building.
The artwork is the final stage of a transformation of the bar and foyer started in 2019 to improve the building – including the installation of bi-fold doors to bring more light into the building.
Play to the Crowd was able to complete the artwork with the support of Winchester City Council and private donors – who the charity and Pea Green met in November, to thank.
Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Play to the Crowd, Deryck Newland, said: “I am proud that Play to the Crowd brings joy and colour to people’s lives.
“Our vision as a charity is to ‘delight and unite’ communities. We hope this artwork does just this. It is for everyone; for the whole crowd. Enjoy!”
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