Dramatic facades
Greek theatre buildings were perhaps some of the first of its kind. They were known as theatron or a seeing place. They were large, open-air structures built on hill slopes. They had three elements – the orchestra, the skene and the audience.
Today, theatres are more trendy and bold displaying styles that are adventurous and imaginative, using colour, light and its surroundings to enhance the building.
Let’s take a look at 10 theatres from around the world.
Let’s take a look at 10 theatres from around the world.
The design for the Bahrain National Theatre drew its inspiration from the horizontal seascape of Bahrain and its name, “Two Seas”.
In Amsterdam, the Bijlmer Park Theatre houses a circus, a theatre, a Youth Theatre School and the Theatre Workplace.
At the Agora Theatre, in Lelystad, Netherlands, the design integrates the theatre arts and new media into sculptural form. The overlapping multi-faceted surface gives a kaleidoscopic effect.
The 579-seat Aksra Theatre is Bangkok’s newest attraction. The stage can support upto 200 performers.
The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin plays host to touring theatres for Ballet, Opera, Musicals and Concerts. It is the largest theatre in Ireland.
Built in 1896 by the British, as a replica of the Globe Theatre in London, the Museum Theatre in Chennai, India is a heritage structure and an example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.
The Southbank Theatre in Melbourne, Australia is the principal home of the Melbourne Theatre Company. The distinctive geometric shapes on the theatre’s façade were inspired by the paintings of the American abstract expressionist Al Held.
The Taastrup Theatre in Copenhagen is conceived as a translucent curtain of acrylic prisms embracing the building. It has an open foyer, an arrival area and a café.
One of China’s most famous cultural projects, the Wuxi Grand Theatre on the banks of Taihu lake, occupies an area of more thant 70,000 sq m. Eight gigantic roof wings stretch, giving the building look of a flaying wings, and protecting the building from the heat of the sun.
At the Almonte Theater in Huelva, Spain the old and new design were integrated. As a result, the contrast between the outside and inside, and the old and new is striking.
Now that you have read up about them try to pair the theatre with its interior.