LSI Projects Delivers Major Redevelopment for Theatr Clwyd

	"We needed to upgrade the spaces with the most up-to-date equipment while not spoiling the spaces," says Roberts.

LSI Projects is currently celebrating its role in the major redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd, the largest producing theatre in Wales and one of the few remaining theatres in the UK with full in-house teams for set construction, costume and technical production. Originally opened in 1976, the building had reached the end of its natural life and required a complete capital transformation. The project has revitalized the entire venue, ensuring it can continue to serve future generations while remaining at the heart of its community in Mold.

The redevelopment reached far beyond a standard M&E upgrade, reimagining the foyer with a striking new timber structure and refreshing the theatre's much-loved performance spaces while maintaining their familiar character. Environmental sustainability was a central focus throughout, with the building now operating gas-free, harvesting rainwater and incorporating PV panels across its major flat roofs. Theatr Clwyd has also expanded its community offer, introducing dedicated Health & Wellbeing Rooms, Creative Engagement and Music Studios, a cinema and a range of versatile event spaces, alongside a new high-quality food partnership with Welsh chef Bryn Williams.

LSI Projects worked in close collaboration with project managers Plann and theatre consultants Charcoalblue to deliver sensitive yet forward-looking technical upgrades that enhance the theatre's capabilities without compromising its heritage.

"We needed to upgrade the spaces with the most up-to-date equipment while not spoiling the spaces," says Andrew Roberts, chief operating officer of Theatr Clwyd. "There is an awful lot of love for our two main theatre spaces, and this, coupled with being a Grade II listed building, added to those challenges. Charcoalblue has delivered brilliantly on that brief, and the care and commitment shown across the Plann, LSI, and CBL teams has been exceptional."

From a theatre design and consultancy perspective, long-term involvement played a key role in navigating those complexities. "One of the biggest challenges was modernizing the building while retaining the character of its two main performance spaces," says Paul Franklin, project lead at Charcoalblue. "The project required the complete replacement of end-of-life performance systems, all within the constraints of the existing structure and a tightly phased program. Close collaboration across the design and delivery teams was essential to achieving a result that respects the building's heritage while supporting how the theatre works today."

Across the five venues within the building, LSI delivered comprehensive lighting and AV infrastructure. The lighting solution featured ETC ColourSource power control and a building-wide Paradigm system integrating DMX, DALI and BMS interfaces, extending into front-of-house and administrative areas. A variety of ETC Arc fixtures upgraded houselight systems across the venues, while Bluesystem products provided new work lighting.

This integrated lighting control environment provides consistent management across performance and public areas, giving technical teams greater flexibility while reducing complexity in day-to-day operation.

On the AV side, Q-SYS formed the backbone of the building-wide audio transport and paging system, with custom source selection interfaces enabling individual rooms to receive paging and show relay audio from multiple venues. A Green-Go digital intercom system was deployed throughout, and custom LSI Stage Manager Desks were installed in the two primary theatre spaces.

Together, these systems create a scalable and interconnected technical infrastructure, allowing productions to run simultaneously across the building while maintaining clear communication and efficient audio distribution.

Additional engineering solutions, including pipe grids and rigging channels, were installed within the Clwyd Rooms and Cinema, giving the technical team flexibility to deploy stage lighting and AV equipment as required for different productions and events.

The transformation has had an immediate and lasting operational impact. Already a significant local employer, the redevelopment created new jobs during construction and has generated more than 100 additional roles within the refurbished venue. For the first time in two decades, the building's quality and facilities now match the artistic standard of Theatr Clwyd's acclaimed productions.

Reflecting on the scale and resilience of the project, Roberts adds: "In the last 15 years, Theatr Clwyd has been through two prior feasibility studies. It wasn't an option to fail this time. Given that the project began its design phase in 2018, it has faced huge national and global challenges such as the pandemic and significant political upheaval. To have come through all of that and to have delivered a venue of this quality is something we are incredibly proud of."

LSI business development director Stuart Dingwall concludes: "Theatr Clwyd really shows the breadth of what LSI can do. From stage and architectural lighting to performance audio, communications and cutting-edge AV solutions, it was a complex project with a lot of moving parts. Out projects and technical teams took it all in their stride and it's incredibly satisfying to see their hard work recognized in such an important venue."