Stadsschouwburg – Utrecht

The Stadsschouwburg Utrecht (SSBU) is the largest theatre building in Utrecht. The stage tower was rebuilt in 1995 and theater cafe De Zindering was added in 2002. In 2009, the SSBU was recognized as a national monument and is in the top 100 Dutch monuments 1940-1958. In 2012 it was decided to renovate the SSBU in 2 phases.

Phase 1: Entrance | Blauwe Zaal

Modification of the Blauwe Zaal (it has been turned a quarter turn) with larger playing floor and a new sliding grandstand with better sightlines and seating comfort. The entrance area has been modified and is now more open: there is again (visual) contact with the surrounding park. Theatercafé Zindering has been renewed and expanded.

Phase 2: Douwe Egberts Hall

In July 2015, the renovation of the Douwe Egberts hall began. The hall, including chairs, has regained the appearance that W.M. Dudok intended. The seating comfort (better chairs, more legroom) has been improved. The sightlines and climate control have also been improved.

Halls
Douwe Egberts Hall, theater hall 847 seats
Blauwe Zaal, flat-floor hall 180 seats

Our advice

• Phase 1: The Blauwe Zaal is completely new (even the roof has been off); the hall has been turned a quarter turn and now overlooks the park. PBTA designed all theatre technology lots: retractable seating (including sightline study), bridge system, lighting, sound, stage curtains, stage floor. The design was followed by tender supervision, execution supervision and delivery.
• Phase 2: The main motivation to remodel the DE hall was better seating comfort (including legroom) and better sightlines. To this end, PBTA modified the seating plan and the hall layout. The balcony has also been reshaped. Innovative is the lifting stand with which a large part of the grandstand can easily and quickly be put in a low position or in a high position, see video below. This allows the auditorium to be adapted from a traditional proscenium theater to a theatre with steeply rising stands. Extra attention was given to sufficient quality seating for the disabled. PBTA made the design (seats and lifting tribune) with stability and sightline study and supervised the tender. After the construction phase, the lifting stand and chairs were recorded.

Results
The audience is well pleased with the halls: “Everything is easy to see and we are comfortable.”