Courtyard, Hereford

The New Hereford Theatre was a converted swimming baths which had become outdated. Planning for the replacement building began in 1993 and received a significant boost when the Lottery Commission provided £3.75 million towards the fund. The glass and wooden building was designed by Glenn Howells, following selection through an architectural design competition managed by RIBA Competitions, and opened on 18 September 1998 after a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Jonathan Stone, then Artistic Director.[1] The design of the Main House is based upon the shape of an Elizabethan Courtyard or Inn Yard Theatre, from which the building takes its name.

The building contains a Studio theatre in addition to its Main House (and both double as cinemas), an art gallery and two conference rooms, on the ground and first floor. There is a rehearsal room/dance studio on the second floor. It has a total seating capacity of approximately 520, in both of its venues.[2] The studio has a third role as a lecture hall; it was from here that David Cameron launched his LibDems 4 Cameron campaign in December 2005.[3] There is also a licensed Cafe-Bar which hosts a number of free events such as 'Jazz Cafe', 'Sunday Social' and 'Open Mike Night'.

Between 1998 and 2004 the centre received approximately 1.2 million visitors[4] and in 1999 it was described as being an "ultra-cool, rigorously modern" building.[5]

The Courtyard's patrons include Sir Derek Jacobi and Jo Brand.

• The Courtyard – Herefordshire's Centre for the Arts