1 year ago
In nan 1950s, accepted theatres seemed doomed successful nan look of television, arsenic Royals, Empires and Alhambras crossed Britain closed and were demolished. Yet this was only half nan story, for astatine nan aforesaid clip mini repertory theatres, moving successful section communities pinch their ain companies of young actors, were flourishing. Their exemplary was nan Birmingham Rep, founded successful 1913 and wherever Laurence Olivier, Albert Finney, Julie Christie and galore others started their careers. Such was its occurrence that by nan 60s it sought a larger building, and turned to Graham Winteringham, a section architect.
The caller Rep opened successful October 1971. Winteringham, who has died aged 99, brought to cardinal Birmingham nan sinuous, rhythmic actual forms made fashionable by nan Brazilian designer Oscar Niemeyer – acold much inviting than nan brutalism recovered successful astir British cities. The immense areas of solid illuminate nan foyers, an enticing, sparkling show erstwhile lit up from wrong astatine night. The interior posed a much difficult brief. Winteringham had to supply 900 seats connected a single, egalitarian level while maintaining a consciousness of intimacy and bully sightlines. There were 2 lobbies for latecomers to watch nan show, arsenic good arsenic bars and a cafe that besides became celebrated destinations.
He brought successful Ove Arup & Partners arsenic engineers and Theatre Projects Ltd arsenic master consultants, truthful nan shape – though exceptionally ample for its time – was, and still is, technically superb. Originally location were moreover bedsits for nan actors successful nan artifact of offices and dressing rooms astatine nan rear.
Winteringham first became progressive successful nan task successful 1961 and remained truthful until his death. Articulate and passionate astir theatre, he attended almost each opening nighttime for 52 years pinch his wife, Lesley. He besides became a trustee of nan Sir Barry Jackson Trust, nan kindness created successful nan sanction of nan Rep’s founder.
The theatre was built adjacent to Birmingham’s civic offices, truthful assumed a nationalist position by association. From 2010 to 2013, its foyers were linked pinch Mecanoo’s arguable caller Library of Birmingham, erstwhile nan rear offices and dressing rooms were rebuilt. In 2022 Winteringham trim nan portion connected a new, accessible entranceway to nan theatre.
Among architects and technicians, however, Winteringham was much often celebrated for different of Birmingham’s taste institutions, nan 300-seat Crescent theatre, opened successful 1964 for amateur thespians (now besides utilized for master productions). Almost half of nan auditorium could revolve done 180 degrees, including nan beforehand rows of seats arsenic good arsenic nan stage. This enabled either “end-stage” productions aliases theatre successful nan round. For this, Winteringham took his inspiration from nan “Total Theatre” designed by Walter Gropius successful 1927 while he was head of nan Bauhaus, but which had hitherto remained a theoretical scheme. Such elasticity was an perfect successful 60s theatres that was seldom achieved. Unfortunately, nan building sat successful nan mediate of nan Brindleyplace improvement tract and was replaced by a caller installation adjacent successful 1998.
Winteringham designed respective schools successful Birmingham, including astatine Hodge Hill and Lyndon Green, and St Thomas religion astatine Garretts Green successful nan city. These early useful were inspired by nan architecture he saw visiting Sweden successful 1947, which became nan style of nan Festival of Britain, but later buildings specified arsenic Lench’s Close almshouses successful Moseley (1983) were much traditional.
In his later profession Winteringham restored galore state houses, including nan location of nan Darby family, Rosehill House, successful Ironbridge, which he rescued from dereliction (1979-85). He worked extensively for nan National Trust crossed nan Midlands, including astatine Baddesley Clinton, Charlecote and Shugborough Hall, arsenic good arsenic astatine Dudley Castle.
Born successful Louth, Lincolnshire, to Frank Winteringham, a occurrence chief, and Edna (nee Coombe), Graham and his elder brother, Francis, grew up successful Leicester, wherever he concisely attended nan schoolhouse of architecture earlier serving successful nan Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm during nan 2nd world war. On demobilisation successful 1946, he studied full-time astatine Birmingham School of Architecture, and successful 1949 joined nan agency of Stansfield T Walker successful nan city. The aforesaid year, he joined Lesley Roberts, and they settled successful Solihull. After concisely moving his ain practice, he formed a business pinch Walker successful 1956.
Lesley died successful 2020. Their 3 children, Paul, John and Claire, past him.
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