Rep main stage to close next year for RAAC removal

The main stage at the Birmingham Rep will close from March to November next year while crumbling concrete above the auditorium is removed, and the city council has agreed to help pay for the work.

The theatre will remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as RAAC, from above its main auditorium and stage, where planks were installed more than 50 years ago.

The show goes on

The Rep will stay open during the work. The 800-seat main auditorium, The House, will close from March to November 2027, but the theatre will keep presenting a programme in The Studio, which seats just under 300.

The Rep says the project will also improve the building, with better insulation, lower energy use and a new insulated metal deck roof.

"A critical structural risk"

A council report said the work addresses the "critical structural risk" from the RAAC planks. "A specialist structural survey confirmed elevated structural risk, necessitating temporary propping of the main auditorium roof and ongoing monitoring," it said.

The propping is still in place and is inspected, but cannot be a long-term fix. The report said removing the RAAC was the preferred option because it would end the risk permanently and secure the theatre's future.

Who is paying

The Rep was awarded £3.047m by Arts Council England earlier this year. The council's cabinet has now agreed up to £338,581 in Legacy Growth grant funding to help it finish the job.

The council owns the building, but the report makes clear that responsibility for repairs lies with the theatre as tenant. The Rep has a contingency of £466,608 for any overruns, and would manage any shortfall through measures including fundraising and private philanthropy.

Councillor Julien Pritchard, the deputy leader, said: "The Rep is one of Birmingham's key cultural and heritage institutions, and it is vital that we do all that we can to protect this building for future generations."

"This investment will safeguard a much-loved and nationally recognised cultural asset, ensuring that The Rep can continue to enrich lives, inspire creativity and play a central role in Birmingham's cultural offer and identity for many years to come."

What is RAAC?

RAAC is a lightweight concrete widely used in roofs, floors and walls between the 1950s and 1990s. It was cheaper and quicker to install than standard concrete, but it has a lifespan of around 30 years and can fail with little warning, especially if water gets in. In 2023 more than 100 schools in England had to close buildings at short notice after concerns about it.

A city landmark

The Rep is one of Britain's oldest building-based theatre companies, founded in 1913 by Barry Jackson. Its current home on Centenary Square opened in 1971 and was refurbished when the Library of Birmingham was built next door. It has launched the careers of many leading actors and directors and is known for new writing as well as major productions.