Hertford Theatre Redevelopment
Hertford Theatre is located in the town centre, occupying a prominent site in The Wash next to the river.
Previously known as Castle Hall, the theatre featured a large auditorium seating 408, a studio space, cafe and gallery.
Owned and operated by East Herts District Council, redevelopment of the theatre was agreed in 2018 and begun in 2022.
This page features a series of photographs charting the ongoing redevelopment of the Theatre. The latest photos appear at the top of the page, working backwards as you move down the page.
The history of the site is also briefly covered at the bottom of the page.
Street scene
The street scene from The Wash in June 2024.
Castle Gates
The new building in relation to the gates of Hertford Castle. The site was previously occupied by the Castle Cinema and Illot's Mill.
Art reinstallation
Public art works have been reinstated on the south facing wall.
Mill Bridge view
A view of the completed building from Mill Bridge in June 2024.
West view
The same view as below but a year later (16th June 2024).
West view
Redevelopment of Hertford Theatre from the St.Andrew Street car park (7th May 2023).
View from Mill Bridge
This view from Mill Bridge gives an idea the the scale of the new theatre (7th May 2023).
Crane
A crane was installed on 27th November to help wth building work.
Piling
Piling equipment is now active on site (23rd October 2022).
Cafe
The cafe has now been demolished (5th September 2022).
Auditorium
Demolition work continues into the auditorium (27th August 2022).
Demolition of the foyer
The foyer and office has now been demolished (16th August 2022).
Cafe & gallery
The former cafe and gallery space prior to demolition (4th August 2022).
Demolition underway
Demotion work started in August 2022
Hertford Theatre in 2020
The theatre closed during the pandemic and the redevelopment project was delayed (May 2020)Redevelopment Highlights
The new theatre will include three bespoke, first release cinema screens with capacities of 81, 85 and 54 seats.
Reconfiguration of the main auditorium will accommodate additional seating and a new dress circle level, increasing the capacity from 408 to 550.
Enhanced facilities and improved technical facilities in the main auditorium will make the venue attractive for larger productions, including West End shows on UK tours, as well as allowing for more independent productions and a programme of community productions.
There will also be an additional 150-seat studio, plaza style foyer, riverside café and 1st floor bar.
A new board walk will provide integration with the adjacent 12th century motte, Castle Gardens and Hertford Castle.
Absolutely Hertfordshire have an interesting interview with Hertford Theatre's Rebecca Butcher about the redevelopment project and the future of the theatre.
Redevelopment agreed
In July 2018 East Herts Council agree to invest in the Growth & Legacy Redevelopment Project for Hertford Theatre
Hertford Theatre
Castle Hall was remodelled in 2010 at a cost of £1m, providing an extended foyer with a cafe and gallery, along with digital film facilities. The name Hertford Theatre replaced Castle Hall. This photo was taken in October 2012.
Castle Hall in 2009
Castle Hall opened in 1977, designed as a multi-purpose flat floored hall with a high fly-tower. The design is influenced by maltings and oast houses that would once have been common in the town.
Site clearance
The site of Castle Hall in 1974, shortly before building work began - looking east towards shops in The Wash (Photo: Peter Ruffles)
Castle Cinema
Castle Hall was built on the site of the Castle Cinema and the neighbouring Illots Mill. The cinema closed in 1959 and remained abandoned for many years before being demolished and the site used as a car park (Photo: Peter Ruffles).The Wash
The Wash lies to the immediate south of the River Lee, connecting Mill Bridge to Parliament Square.
The name derives from the fact that in past centuries the site would often flood, or be "awash".
At the beginning of the 20th century, shops and a house occupied the western side of the road, but by 1914 these had been cleared to provide a new entrance to Hertford Castle and a cinema. The cinema was modernised with an Art Deco frontage in 1939. The picture house closed in 1944 having suffered war damage, reopening in 1946. Movies continued to be shown for a further 13 years until the cinema finally closed on 28th November 1959.
This article was first published on 1st September 2022
and last upodated on Thursday 27th June 2024