Replacing & Refurbishing Theatre Seating

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Replacing Refurbishing Theatre Seating
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• If you own an independent theatre or cinema or
  are responsible for the facilities in such an
  establishment, this guide has been designed to
  help you when it comes to sourcing, replacing or
  refurbishing theatre seating.
• From modern seats in a new build arts centre to
  traditional theatre seating in a listed building,
  there are a range of options available to you
  once your auditorium requires refurbishment, or
  if you are fitting out a new venue.

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• Refurbishing Vintage Theatre Seating
• There are many old theatre buildings across the
  UK which still have the original seating in situ.
  In many cases it will have been patched up,
  reupholstered and repaired over the years.
  Elements such as panelling on seat backs, which
  was often hidden under back boards during periods
  when a traditional look wasnt deemed
  fashionable, are now attractive features that are
  being uncovered during restoration.
• If you are fortunate to have the type of vintage
  theatre seating thats now sought after,
  regardless of how it might have been modified,
  its often possible to restore it to its former
  glory. If you want to maintain the heritage of
  your establishment and show off original
  features, refurbishment is the first option you
  should consider.

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• The century old theatre seating at the John Peel
  Theatre in Wigton (above left) had undergone
  various modifications over the years to repair
  and modernise it.
• Sympathetic restoration uncovered period
  detailing whilst reupholstery in a traditional
  red velvet helped transform the seating back to
  how it might have looked when new.

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• Refurbishing Modern Theatre Seating
• Whilst your theatre seating may not be old enough
  to be classed as vintage, it can still be
  restored in the same way if it is starting to
  show signs of wear and tear. Modern theatre
  seating should give many years of service before
  it requires replacing so where only certain
  elements require attention, one would not usually
  want to go to the expensive of replacing the
  whole seating unit.
• Over a long period of time seating upholstery can
  become frayed, particularly on the arms and seat
  edges. The foam padding inside the seats can also
  begin to sag, making them less comfortable to sit
  on.

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• Theatre Seating Replacement
• In contrast to vintage theatre seating which
  often has unique features and an attractive
  design, theatre seating which was new in the
  latter part of the 20th century often lacks
  character and now looks old fashioned and dated.
• After the original hey-day of theatre when its
  popularity began to decline, many theatres closed
  down and buildings were either repurposed or
  boarded up, remaining out of use for long
  periods. In many cases the theatre seating was
  routinely ripped out and disposed of with no
  thought given to its historical value.

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• In later years when many of these buildings were
  reinstated as theatres or cinemas, they were
  fitted out with the auditorium seating of the
  time which is no longer suitable for modern day
  audiences. Similarly, theatres which were newly
  established during this period will also now face
  the same issues.
• If this is the type of seating currently fitted
  in your venue, replacement is often the only
  viable option if you want to provide the kind of
  comfort and style that todays audiences expect.

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• The original theatre seating in Formby Little
  Theatre (above left) was fitted in 1984 when the
  theatre company moved into its own premises.
  Whilst fit for purpose at the time, the seats
  were narrow and did not have any arms.
• Fast forward 30 plus years and the facilities in
  the theatre were over-due for an upgrade. They
  opted to replace the seats with Evertauts Orion
  theatre seating, sacrificing 5 seat places to
  provide more space for each member of the
  audience and allowing for arms to enhance comfort
  and delineate personal space.
• Removable banks of seating were also fitted on
  the front row to make provision for wheelchair
  users as and when required.

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• Refurbishing Theatre Seating in Listed Buildings
• A theatre is listed when it is of special
  architectural or historic interest in a national
  context. Listed building consent is required for
  all works of demolition, alteration or extension
  to a listed building that affect its character.
  The listed status pertains to the entire property
  so both internal and external alterations may
  require consent, including any changes to
  fittings such as seating.
• If your theatre or cinema is a listed building
  you can seek advice from your local authority
  Conservation Officer and the Theatres Trust in
  relation to any refurbishment works you might
  want to carry out.

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• The Theatres Trust also strongly advise employing
  the professional services of architects,
  surveyors and consultants who specialise in
  historic theatre buildings where appropriate.
• If your listed theatre still has its original
  seating then its likely that any refurbishment
  works will have to retain the original design and
  colour. That is not to say however that minor
  modifications are not possible if they are
  necessary to address issues that have could have
  a detrimental effect on audience sightlines or
  comfort.
• When seating in the Grade II listed Crucible
  Theatre in Sheffield (below) was refurbished, new
  upholstery fabric had to be colour-matched to the
  original yellow.

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• Fitting Out New Theatre Cinema Venues
• For new build venues or existing buildings which
  require fitting out, appropriate theatre seating
  will need to be sourced. Most UK manufacturers
  will make theatre seating to order as it will be
  tailored to the requirements of each individual
  venue. There are a range of designs on the market
  and you will find new seating available in both
  modern and traditional designs to help you create
  the desired look.
• Alternatively, if you want an authentic vintage
  look there is the option of sourcing reclaimed
  seating which has been removed from another
  venue. Its likely this would need refurbishing
  before fitting into your venue so you would need
  to weigh up the cost of all these elements versus
  buying new.

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• This will help determine how important it is to
  have original vintage seats as opposed to
  reproduction ones.
• You may also find it possible to source
  auditorium seating off-the-shelf but this is
  generally more suitable for the domestic market
  and not for professional venues.
• New theatre seating is a long-term, high-value
  investment and you need to ensure the seats you
  choose are going to stand the test of time with
  high-frequency usage.

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• Tiered Flooring
• In the case of a brand-new venue, you may be
  looking for someone to install a tiered floor
  structure in addition to the seating. A tiered
  floor helps provide the best lines of sight which
  has a big impact on audience enjoyment, even in
  very small venues.
• Many seating manufacturers can supply and fit
  bespoke tiering as part of a complete seating
  package and this is something you can discuss
  with potential suppliers.
• If you are specifying tiering you will need to
  choose what type of floor covering is to be
  fitted over it.

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• In an existing venue, you may also want to
  replace or upgrade the floor covering at the same
  time as the seating. Many seating manufacturers
  can also supply and fit this so it is something
  you could request a quote for alongside the
  seating.
• If you will be using a separate contractor to
  undertake this work you will need to make your
  seating supplier aware of this so that the
  seating removal and replacement can be
  co-ordinated with the flooring supplier.
• Bear in mind that if your seating supplier has to
  make 2 site visits to remove and refit seating
  then this will likely incur additional costs.

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• Disability Access
• The Equality Act (2010) states that disabled
  people should be able to access your premises in
  a dignified and equal manner to everyone else and
  to use your facilities with ease. Under the Act,
  service providers have a duty to make reasonable
  adjustments to ensure that disabled people are
  not substantially disadvantaged when compared
  with non-disabled people. The Arts Council has
  produced a good practice guide to building access
  for arts and cultural organisations which can be
  viewed here.
• In relation to specifying theatre or cinema
  seating, you need to ensure that provision is
  made for wheelchair users to easily access the
  auditorium and be able to sit and watch the
  performance.

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• In an auditorium with fixed theatre seating, a
  permanent space can be made available for
  wheelchair users or removable seating banks can
  be taken out as and when required. The latter
  option allows venues to maximise capacity when
  there is no requirement for a wheelchair position
  during a performance.
• Removable banks of seating are generally fitted
  on the front or back row (dependent on where
  access points are located). They are commonly
  made up of 2 or 3 seats fitted together which can
  quickly and easily be unscrewed from the floor
  for removal as required. When in situ they look
  just the same as all other seats in the
  auditorium, as can be seen in The Core Theatre in
  Solihull (pictured below). Removable banks of 3
  seats are fitted along the front row with hand
  wheels (circled) to facilitate easy removal.

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• Social Distancing
• Whether you are replacing or refurbishing theatre
  seating, the requirement for social distancing is
  going to be a reality for some time to come.
• This is an additional complexity that venue
  managers now have a huge responsibility to deal
  with.
• There are a variety of social distancing aids on
  the market from signs to stickers and of course
  there is also the option for establishments to
  create and print their own notices.

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• None of these are without problems however as
  anything stuck to a seat is likely to leave
  behind a residue whilst signs and notices can
  easily be moved or accidentally knocked on the
  floor by patrons.
• In response to the need for a more robust
  solution, Evertaut is now manufacturing Social
  Distancing Seat Covers and Seat Caps which
  clearly indicate seats that are out of use whilst
  being easy to fit and remove.
• Whatever option is preferred, you will need to
  consider how to facilitate social distancing when
  replacing or refurbishing theatre seating.

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• Confirm Your Requirements
• Before researching potential seating options and
  suppliers, it is advisable to compile a list of
  your requirements. Most suppliers will be able to
  give you budget prices based on the number of
  seats you need but to get a firm price they will
  need you to make certain specifications such as
  fabric type and seat finishes.
• For established venues, it is also useful if you
  can supply a floor plan if you already have one
  drawn up, or at least confirm your seating
  configuration. If you want to increase or
  decrease the capacity of the venue, then this is
  something best discussed with potential suppliers
  as they may need to conduct a site survey and
  draw up a new seating plan for you.

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• In the case of refurbishing theatre seating, it
  is very helpful to provide potential suppliers
  with photos of your existing seats along with
  details of all elements you feel require
  attention.
• This should allow them to provide you with a
  refurbishment quote without needing to visit your
  premises.

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• Once you have a short-list of suitable seating
  options you can request quotations and in some
  cases it may be possible to obtain a sample seat
  for testing.
• Although budget is obviously a key consideration,
  choosing seating based on the cheapest price does
  not necessarily offer the best value over the
  long term. Comparing seating specifications will
  also help you assess quality and comfort,
  particularly if you are unable to test a physical
  seat.

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• Removal Disposal of Old Theatre Seating
• If you are having seats removed and replaced you
  will need to consider who will be responsible for
  this and what will happen to the old seats. If
  your existing seats are no longer fit for purpose
  and require disposal then there will be a cost
  associated with this. Most suppliers will be able
  to handle this for you and should ensure they are
  responsibly disposed of with components being
  recycled where possible.
• If the overall structure of the seats are still
  in good condition then it may be possible for
  them to be sold on or donated to a charity or
  other organisation this is certainly something
  to consider if feasible.

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• Quality Environmental Considerations
• If you want to ensure you are dealing with an
  ethical supplier then ask for evidence of their
  certifications and any policies you feel it is
  important they have. ISO 9001 is a key quality
  management certification whilst ISO 14001 relates
  to environmental management.
• Some smaller suppliers may not have these
  certifications but it is important to check they
  are still following the best practice principals
  of them. All companies should have policies
  relating to quality, the environment, health and
  safety, equality and diversity, sustainable
  procurement, sustainability, and equal
  opportunities to name just a few.

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• Finance
• Theatre seating is a high value investment and
  whilst refurbishment is generally a cheaper
  option it still requires a significant cash
  outlay. Whilst many establishments in the UK have
  recently been awarded funding from the Cultural
  Recovery Fund, there are many others who have
  unfairly received nothing.
• There are a range of other grants available from
  organisations such as Theatres Trust, Arts
  Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council
  of Wales, and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
  Applying for a grant can be a lengthy process and
  success is not guaranteed but it is worth looking
  at what is available if you need to raise funds
  for theatre seating refurbishment or replacement.

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• Where grant funding has not been forthcoming,
  establishments often have to rely on their own
  fundraising initiatives to generate capital for
  refurbishment projects, although these have
  obviously been hit hard by the Coronavirus
  pandemic.
• Another alternative means to fund theatre seating
  refurbishment or replacement is leasing. Many
  venue operators are unaware that this type of
  finance is available to Limited Companies for
  both refurbishing existing seats or purchasing
  new ones. It allows theatres to pay for their
  seating in fixed monthly instalments over a set
  period of time with the benefit that the payments
  are tax deductible against profits.

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• Evertaut can put clients in touch with companies
  who offer this type of finance although we cannot
  offer any financial advice or determine whether
  this is a suitable option for any individual
  establishment.
• It is always recommended that companies seek
  independent financial advice before entering into
  such an agreement. We do not receive any fee or
  other benefit for introducing venues to a finance
  company.

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• After-Sales Service
• The final element you need to consider when
  choosing a seating supplier is the after-sales
  service on offer. Although theatre seating is
  designed to be robust and hard-wearing there is
  always potential for an occasional problem and
  you want to be confident that your supplier will
  be available to help if there are any issues. Ask
  what guarantees or warranties are offered and
  also what service will be available once the
  warranty period has ended.
• From being able to repair a damaged seat to
  replacing a missing fixing, it is the little
  things that can go a long way in providing the
  kind of service that ensures customers are
  satisfied well beyond the purchase and
  installation process.

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• Lead Times Installation
• Once you have confirmed all your requirements and
  have finance in place, the final consideration is
  the timings of the project. As seats are made to
  order you will need to allow for lead times which
  generally can be anything from 4 to 12 weeks,
  dependent on the number of seats you require and
  the workload of the manufacturer at the time.
• Although Coronavirus has forced venues to close,
  during normal times many establishments have
  little or no dark time available for theatre
  seating refurbishment or replacement work to be
  carried out. As an experienced theatre seating
  manufacturer and supplier, Evertaut works closely
  with venues to ensure work is carried out in a
  timely manner and this is something that will
  need to be discussed with any other potential
  suppliers.

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• Theatre seating refurbishment work will often be
  carried out off-site whereby all relevant seating
  components will be removed and taken away for
  refurbishment then returned and refitted at a
  later date. If there is no dark time available
  for this work to be carried out, it could
  potentially be done in batches over a longer
  period of time. This allows performances to
  continue with reduced capacity with refitting and
  removal being done between performance times.
• Whilst most manufacturers will offer a supply and
  installation service, you may also choose to
  arrange your own installation. This can often be
  more cost-effective for smaller venues where an
  additional premium may need to be charged to send
  an installation team to fit a small number of
  seats.

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• As previously discussed, theatre seating is a
  long-term investment, so it is important to
  ensure you choose the right seating that offers
  the optimum comfort and quality that your budget
  allows. With so many alternative means of
  entertainment available in the 2020s, theatres
  and independent cinemas need to provide a great
  overall experience for their audiences.
  Comfortable seating and a clear view of a
  performance have a big impact on enjoyment and
  can be a key determining factor for audience
  members when deciding whether to return to a
  venue in the future.
• To discuss a theatre seating refurbishment or
  replacement project, or for a no-obligation
  quotation, please complete and submit the short
  form below or .

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