Refurbishment plans for Mayo theatre

PLANS are in the pipeline for substantial refurbishment works to Claremorris Town Hall Theatre.

They involve alterations to the existing building, with partial demolition and extensions, including a new main entrance and foyer at the corner of Town Hall Road and Chapel Lane.

Clár Regional Centre CLG, t/a Claremorris Town Hall, has submitted a planning application to Mayo County Council for approval.

A submission from the project's architect sets out how the existing theatre is an established civic and cultural facility within Claremorris. The intention of the proposed development is to substantially refurbish, reconfigure and extend the building to provide an improved contemporary cultural facility, while establishing a clearer sense of civic hierarchy and presence appropriate to the building's importance within the town.

In particular, the design seeks to establish a clearly identifiable principal entrance and improved relationship with Chapel Lane and Town Hall Road, while providing a more functional and flexible internal arrangement incorporating the auditorium, foyer, gallery, studios and supporting accommodation.

The architectural treatment is deliberately contemporary and restrained, with the objective of giving the building an appropriate civic identity without being excessive in scale or expression.

The proposal provides for an increase from an existing gross floor area of approximately 1,168 m² to a proposed gross floor area of approximately 1,820 m², with approximately 108 m² of the existing building being demolished as part of the reconfiguration.