Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent have been granted for the refurbishment and extension of the Grade II* listed Theatre Royal Margate.

Built in 1787 and extensively remodelled in 1874 by Jethro Thomas Robinson, architect of London's Old Vic Theatre, the Theatre Royal is one of Britain's oldest theatres. It is a delightful space with two decorative horseshoe balconies supported by slender iron columns. It was Grade II* listed in 1955.

Following its closure in 2022, the project will bring the theatre back into public use, supporting its future as a thriving venue for the performing arts. The scheme also forms part of Margate's successful Government Regeneration Funding programme, alongside the restoration of the town's listed Winter Gardens.

Working with a specialist team of engineers and theatre consultants, our proposals include essential repairs and upgrades to help secure the theatre's long-term future. The scheme includes a new extension to accommodate much-needed ventilation equipment, together with a new stage entrance, accessible lift and dressing room facilities.

Currently at the top of the Theatres Trust's Theatres at Risk Register, the project represents an important step towards safeguarding this much-loved historic theatre for future generations.

At G Live in Guildford, we reimagined the VIP bar as a layered and atmospheric environment within the live performance venue. We transformed what was previously a stark and undefined space through tone, texture and light rather than physical enclosure. By introducing a darkened ceiling, we shifted the perception of scale to create intimacy, while pendant lighting establishes rhythm and warmth across the room.

We designed the seating into purposefully segmented zones with high backs to create moments of privacy within the open plan. Warm timber flooring and a palette of burnt orange and deep green tones introduce depth and richness.

The bar on the ground floor was conceived as a freestanding piece of furniture, robust in specification yet refined in form, with fluted glass panels making use of the natural light from the window behind and adding texture. Through this intervention, we sought to elevate the experience of arrival, interval and social gathering within the venue.

We are delighted to share that planning permission has been approved for our design for the conversion of a 1930s gymnasium into a new theatre and performing arts centre, alongside a contemporary foyer extension to the Grade II* listed Sacred Hearts School, Hammersmith.

The project supports Sacred Heart’s ambition to expand its performing arts provision, creating a flexible facility for both the school and the wider community. Designed as a self-contained venue, it will provide dedicated teaching, rehearsal, and performance space, with independent access for public use.

A key feature of the scheme is the double-height foyer, that makes use of a laminated timber lattice structure, that leads to a new terrace of rain garden planting. The timber-led approach reduces embodied carbon while creating a warm and natural internal environment. The proposals will deliver a sustainable addition to the school campus, creating a new cultural hub at its heart.

We’re delighted to share that The Waterways, Great Yarmouth has received a Civic Trust Highly Commended Award and a Selwyn Goldsmith Highly Commended Award for Universal Design. Working alongside Allen Scott , The Morton Partnership Ltd and Blakedown Landscapes, we helped transform this Grade II listed park into a vibrant, multi-functional space for both locals and visitors to enjoy. The project blends historic preservation and sensitive modern intervention with restored pavilions and locally thatched roofs

Civic Trust Awards Judges said: “This heritage-led regeneration has preserved the historic charm, securing a sustainable future as a beloved landmark for Great Yarmouth.”

Foster Wilson Size has been commissioned by Lowestoft Town Council to undertake improvements to the Marina Theatre to improve audience access and comfort.

The new extension addresses key deficiencies in the historic theatre, introducing a fully accessible entrance and box office, a wheelchair lift, additional foyer space and additional toilets. The design also creates an accessible connection at all levels between the theatre and the adjacent Zenith Building, which houses a community space, café and offices. Further improvements to the theatre’s seating are also included as part of the Towns Fund Project.

Congratulations to Polka Theatre who were awarded the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award at the UK Theatre Awards 2024 yesterday. The UK Theatre Awards celebrate the very best of theatre across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Southampton City Council has approved our multi-million-pound plans to extend the Grade II Listed Mayflower Theatre—marking a significant step forward in the evolution of this historic cultural venue.

The new three-storey extension will connect the historic theatre with the adjoining administration building, added in 2010. At the heart of the scheme is a new double-height rehearsal studio. The project also includes two fully accessible dressing rooms at stage level, creating better access and functionality.

The University of York has commissioned Foster Wilson Size and Excite Audio Visual to design a state-of-the-art interpretation training suite. Works include a conference room and a suite of interpretation booths, accessible by wheelchair users, for their new Spring Lane building.

The Training Suite consists of several integrated systems that provide a ‘real-world’ discussion and interpretation experience for both students and teachers.

We’re very pleased to announce that Foster Wilson Size has been shortlisted for the Architect of the Year Awards, in the Public Building Architect of the Year category.

Designed to serve as a cultural anchor in the heart of community, Brixton House has been awarded a RIBA London Award 2023, recognising the project’s architectural excellence, cultural significance, and its vital role in the heart of Brixton.

Brixton House was conceived as a place for performance, creativity and connection and as an open and welcoming hub for all.