Stiltskin Childrens Theatre

Winner People of Plymouth Award 2017 and Winner Abercrombie Award 2017 for Best Community Project

Cura Design gained planning permission in October 2015 for a derelict WWll gas decontamination building and Heritage Asset to be converted into Plymouths first dedicated childrens theatre and managed amphitheatre space in Plymouths oldest public park. The design of the Childrens Theatre and amphitheatre endeavours to acknowledge and encourage the relationship between childrens theatre and the heritage and natural setting. The theatre has three performance spaces, the roof, the amphitheatre and the internal theatre stage. Cura Design have looked to both biophilic design principles and passive haus technologies (in collaboration with Peter Warm Consultants) to integrate nature into the day to day life of the theatre. External green walls provide additional habitat for birds, insects and butterflies while providing an affordable design feature and as well deterent for grafitti. The existing water tower element is exposed and expressed in the design. This important element will have two lives; a past life that held the water tanks for the facility and its present and future life as a key element of the reuse of the building as this area will provide a mini fly tower for scenery changes and lighting with the stage below. In this way the tower will continue to provide a "life force" though in an entirely new way and with a new spirit.