THE BUILDING would set new standards for theatre design and, specifically for opera house design in Ireland, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Séamus Brennan said yesterday as he performed the topping out ceremony for the Wexford Opera House.
The new €33 million building is the first opera house to be built in Ireland in the 21st century. It is located on the same site that housed the Theatre Royal, home of Wexford Festival Opera since its foundation in 1951. But its 7,750sq m (83,420sq ft) area is more than four times that of the Theatre Royal and its seating capacity of 779 is more than 40 per cent greater. Audiences can be expected to appreciate the comfort of having an area per seat that's up nearly 40 per cent on that of the old theatre.
The building would set new design standards, Mr Brennan said, and "its ambition is therefore a matter of both regional and national significance and pride".
Festival chairman Paul Hennessy said the new theatre was "at the heart of Wexford, physically and emotionally. There are going to be some great times for Ireland here."
The theatre's dark flytower is now a major landmark in Wexford town, and dominates the skyline from across the Slaney river with White's Hotel and the town's church spires. From closer up, however, the effect of a hidden theatre remains. The centuries-old streetscape of High Street has been preserved, and the town's famous narrow streets keep the new building a secret.
The Minister was taken on a guided tour of the building, which is still a hard-hat site. He noted the "wow factor" of the still only partially finished auditorium, which is clad in Canadian walnut in a way that is both muted and spectacular. The auditorium has been designed in a horseshoe shape, which means that, in spite of the increased capacity, just one row of 21 seats is placed farther away from the stage than the farthest seats in the Theatre Royal.
One of the new rehearsal areas, which is expected to double up as a cafe, provides new elevated views of Wexford harbour.
The increased capacity of the pit, which can accommodate 65 orchestral players will open up new areas of repertoire to the festival's artistic director David Agler.
The building is on target for completion in July, with acoustic tests, to which the public will be admitted, in August, and a gala opening concert at the end of September. The 2008 Wexford Festival will run from October 16th to November 2nd. All that remains is for everyone involved to heed Mr Brennan's closing plea: "Now, please finish it in time and on budget, would you?"