Gala Theatre

Gala Theatre: Refurbished Seating for a Modern Cultural Venue→

The Gala Theatre in Durham is a thriving hub for the performing arts, cinema, and community events.

As part of a wider refurbishment programme, the theatre sought to refresh its auditorium seating to improve audience comfort and ensure the venue continues to meet the needs of modern visitors.

Project Overview

The refurbishment aimed to preserve the theatre’s contemporary look and feel while enhancing functionality and longevity. Specific objectives for the seating included:

  • Refurbishing existing auditorium chairs to extend their lifecycle

  • Updating upholstery and finishes to give the seating a fresh, modern appearance

  • Ensuring durability to withstand the demands of a busy, multi-purpose venue

  • Completing works within a tight schedule to minimise disruption to programming

The goal was to deliver a cost-effective, sustainable solution while improving the overall audience experience.

Our Contribution

Race Furniture worked closely with the Gala Theatre team to deliver a tailored refurbishment service for the venue’s auditorium seating. Our work included:

  • Reupholstery and Refurbishment: Carefully dismantling and refurbishing existing chairs, replacing worn components, and applying new high-quality fabrics and finishes

  • Durability Enhancements: Upgrading materials to ensure the refurbished seating would endure high levels of use

  • Installation Support: Managing the removal and reinstallation process efficiently to meet project deadlines

By refurbishing rather than replacing, the Gala Theatre achieved a sustainable upgrade that retained the functionality of its seating while giving the auditorium a fresh lease of life.

Outcome

The Gala Theatre’s refurbished seating offers audiences improved comfort and contributes to the venue’s vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Race Furniture is proud to support the theatre’s continued role as a key cultural destination in Durham.

“The renewal of our seating came at a busy time for us. Our whole venue was undergoing refurbishment, and we had a tight window of time to procure, install and fit new the seats in our auditorium. From our first contact with the team at Race, we received exceptional service. Their communication was great, and they were flexible in altering schedules and working around other trades on site to ensure the job was finished on time and on budget. The Race team understood our needs perfectly, installation was swift, efficient and smooth and the end result elevates our auditorium into something really special”.

Robin Byers, Service Manager – Place & Experience, Durham County Council

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Race Furniture Limited
Bourton Industrial Park
Bourton-On-The-Water
Gloucestershire
GL54 2HQ

+44 (0)1451 821446
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