The Elgar Room will now incorporate built in technical facilities and the flexibility to "match any event requirement". From late night and intimate gigs to after show parties, comedy nights, cabaret and theatre performances, the redesign has created a versatile room in which a variety of events can be accommodated. The new room already has a number of events lined up to take place ranging from after show parties for Elton John and Monty Python's Not The Messiah to a comedy night with Patrick Monahan and the next instalment of the Royal Albert Hall's HUSH series.
The £1million renovation sees the original floor to ceiling windows restored as the room's raised flooring is removed to create one large space - increasing its maximum capacity to 350 standing and to 110 when used as a restaurant. A lighting infrastructure has been installed including LED colour changing ceiling panels as well as a state of the art sound system and speakers.
Jasper Hope, director of events at the Royal Albert Hall said, "We are delighted to announce the completion of the newly refurbished Elgar Room. For the first time since the Hall's opening in 1871 we have somewhere other than the main auditorium in which to host music and other events. The 350 capacity venue will allow the Hall to bring a different type of artist and audience to the building and we look forward to having some exceptional events in the space."
Located on the west side of the Hall, the Elgar Room was first known as the West Theatre. With a history as interesting as it is varied, the most notable use of the West Theatre was as a training ground for budding actors. From 1906 to 1957 The Central School of Speech and Drama was established in the room providing training in speech, language and drama. A wealth of famous actors and theatre professionals including Sir Laurence Olivier, Dame Judi Dench, Harold Pinter, Peggy Ashcroft, Vanessa Redgrave, Joss Ackland and Cicely Berry learnt their trade on its stage. On Sunday 4 October 2009 the school's Alumni will reunite in a special pre-opening celebration in the Elgar Room.
In keeping with the Hall's rich musical heritage, the walls of the Elgar Room will pay tribute to the late-great musicians who have played the Royal Albert Hall with images of artists including John Lennon and George Harrison, James Brown, Johnny Cash, Luciano Pavarotti, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
(Jim Evans)
