Hastings theatre set to undergo major refurbishment in 2019

This year will see a full refurbishment of the original wooden auditorium flooring, changing the seating configuration and giving the venue greater flexibility to present standing concerts in the main house for the first time since 1985. The work will also include brand-new curtaining throughout.

The news follows a recently-completed 13-week improvement programme carried out by venue operators HQ Theatres & Hospitality, which included the re-painting of the venue exterior, refurbishment of the bar, kiosk and lounge areas and investment in new intelligent LED lighting to the front of the building.

The auditorium improvements will allow The White Rock to more easily remove seats for events, giving the theatre the opportunity to increase capacity for standing shows and live music gigs; as well as to host a wider variety of conferences, exhibitions and large scale dining events.

As part of these changes the current raised stalls seating section will be reverted back to the original flat floor stalls seating. The current format was installed during a refurbishment in the 1980s, but limits the flexibility of the auditorium space. The venue will also open the dress circle for all performances moving forward, offering customers a range of seating options.