Dartford Borough Council and Trafalgar Theatres have announced the immediate suspension of performances at The Orchard Theatre in Dartford following a routine inspection that uncovered reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The theatre is the latest building forced to close in a continuing concrete crisis, which also claimed Royal and Derngate in Northampton earlier this month.
RAAC is a cheaper and more lightweight form of concrete that was used in U.K. buildings from the 1950s through the 1990s. The "aerated" part of its name refers to bubbles of air throughout the concrete, which, unfortunately, also dramatically shortens the material's shelf life. RAAC has a lifespan of about 30 years, making any building still standing outside of or near that expiration date a danger.
“It’s not the news that anyone wants to hear but there is nothing more important than the safety of the audiences, staff, artists, volunteers, and everyone at the venue," says Council Leader Jeremy Kite in a statement announcing the suspension. "This problem was embedded in the building at the time of its construction in 1983 and it is one of thousands of buildings built using this construction method."
The crisis has moved fast. According to reporting in The Guardian, concerns were raised about RAAC-built schools last week in a report that identified 156 buildings as problems. Though the vulnerability of RAAC has been known for some time, recent failures involving RAAC in buildings previously thought to only have moderate risk of issues has made the issue suddenly more urgent.
The Orchard was built in 1983, meaning it passed the 30-year mark in 2013. RAAC appears to have been used in the venue's roof, and theatre staff hope that replacement of panels will allow the theatre to reopen within months. Performances are only formally canceled through the end of September, with a more specific reopening time frame expected following further investigations.
“Although any closure is a blow, we are in the fortunate position to have the resources and determination to put the building right and reopen it for the benefit of residents," continues Kite. "Both Dartford Borough Council and Trafalgar Theatres are committed to making the necessary adaptations required as soon as possible to allow performances to recommence. We, and our partners at Trafalgar Theatres, know this will cause inconvenience and disappointment, but the safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority.”
Ticketholders for September performances will be contacted for rescheduling and/or refunds. The theatre is asking patrons not contact them and instead await further communication.
