The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has named Shakespeare North Trust and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council as 2024 Client of the Year winner for their ambitious community regeneration project Shakespeare North in Prescot.
Aimed at inspiring a community, transforming opportunity, raising educational aspiration and attainment, and playing a part in regenerating the local area, Shakespeare North is the product of an ambitious vision and extraordinary brief from an exceptional client team.
Built on a former council-owned car park, the new theatre building is promoting learning, experimentation, and reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s works. Offering an exhibition space, outdoor performance area, seminar rooms, and the only known purpose-built indoor Elizabethan theatre, the architects and clients have created a cultural and social space that has inspired and invigorated an historic Merseyside town.
Stephanie Macdonald, Founding Director, 6a Architects, said:
“Pursuing cultural excellence and local needs with equal ambition, Shakespeare North has successfully revitalized the community, transforming one of England’s most deprived boroughs and making Prescot a new cultural destination in the UK. By inviting the local youth theatre group as the main resident at the outset, and appointing 30 community coordinators, they fostered genuine engagement and addressed the needs of the wider region. 3000 people attended the opening parade with floats from each community group.”
Find out more about the Special Awards and hear from the winners on RIBAJ
Client of the Year is sponsored by ibstock
