An Icon Reframed for the Next Act
On Stockton High Street, the Globe stands renewed. The Grade II-listed Art Deco theatre now features a remodelled auditorium, a new gig venue and upgraded back-of-house facilities, securing its place in the region’s cultural life for generations to come.
Overview
Commissioned by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, the Globe’s £30 million restoration was supported by a £4.5 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant. Originally opened in 1935, the Grade II-listed theatre had been closed since 1997, its structure and systems deteriorating after years of disuse. The complex combines three key elements: the restored 3,000-capacity Globe auditorium, the adjoining Link building with a 250-seat gig venue and café bar, and the Annex, which provides state-of-the-art technical and back-of-house facilities. Together they form a cultural gathering place in Stockton’s regeneration, bringing people and performance back to the High Street.
- Year 2021
- Location County Durham
- Client Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
- Project Sectors Culture & Heritage
Design Approach
SPACE worked closely with conservation officers, contractors, and the council to ensure the theatre’s architectural integrity was preserved while introducing 21st-century standards of access, safety, and performance. The design reinstated Art Deco detailing throughout the auditorium and public areas, restoring terrazzo floors, geometric balustrades, and period lighting fixtures.
Modern interventions were woven sensitively into the historic framework. The Link building connects the old theatre to new public spaces, providing flexible bars, exhibition areas, and a smaller performance venue for emerging artists. The Annex extends behind the retained Georgian façade, housing the latest stage technology, dressing rooms, and technical facilities.
“The project was an opportunity to nurture this former theatre back to its original splendour while expanding and updating the facilities to create a truly sustainable cultural centre fit for the 21st century.”
David Coundon
Director
SPACE Architects
Result
Since welcoming audiences again in 2021, it has hosted major touring productions, concerts, and community events, reaffirming its role as a regional destination for live entertainment. The restoration balances historic character with contemporary function, creating spaces that are both atmospheric and efficient.
The project has earned national recognition, including wins at the RICS Public Sector Awards and commendations at the Constructing Excellence North East Awards. Years after completion, the building still feels contemporary and welcoming. It has proven its success as a venue that meets modern technical standards while maintaining the warmth and intimacy that made the original Globe so loved. For SPACE, playing a part in the theatre’s revival and seeing it flourish again in Stockton’s cultural life remains a shared point of pride.
People
Where residents, audiences and performers can meetThe Globe’s return has renewed opportunity across Stockton, restoring a cultural space that supports the people who bring it to life. Its rooms now serve artists developing new work, technicians building their skills and community groups looking for a place to gather. The Link venue and café bar extend this welcome, offering inclusive spaces where residents, audiences and performers can meet and connect.
Together, these spaces make the theatre as much a community meeting point as a stage. They show the importance of local cultural venues in supporting creative ambition, providing places where people can collaborate and feel part of Stockton’s cultural story.
Planet
Environmental responsibility, architectural integrityRestoring the Globe rather than rebuilding it preserved a significant amount of embodied carbon and protected the value of the existing structure. New services were carefully integrated to improve energy performance, with upgraded insulation, modern HVAC systems and efficient LED lighting all reducing operational energy use. These enhancements ensure the theatre meets contemporary environmental standards while maintaining the integrity of its historic Art Deco fabric.
Place
A landmark in the town’s cultural memory
Stockton Globe has long been a landmark in the town’s cultural memory, a heritage asset recognised in photographs of crowded pavements and illuminated façades. Its revival restores this presence on the High Street, linking past and present through careful conservation of its Art Deco character. The return of the theatre has renewed confidence in the town centre, attracting audiences from across the region and supporting nearby businesses. With the addition of The Link and the Annex, the site now forms a continuous cultural route through Stockton, strengthening connections between heritage, local economy and everyday life. The project shows how investing in existing buildings can transform a community while preserving the identity that makes it unique.
Credits
- Design Team David Coundon
