Corn Exchange Transformation

Live performance returned to Brighton Dome's Corn Exchange.

Brighton Dome's Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre re-opened with Van Gogh Alive on 20 May 2023. We welcomed over 77,000 people in to our magnificently restored and refurbished spaces.

New retractable seating was installed, increasing the venue's capacity to 505 for seated shows.

The flooring was updated.

Following 18 months of extensive repairs and strengthening, the scaffold came down to reveal the stunning original timber frame.

Scaffolding was removed from the venue's Church Street entrance, revealing its ornate facade.

6500 linear meters of solid oak cladding were installed on the Corn Exchange walls.

16,000 Welsh slate tiles (weighing 55 tonnes) were replaced on the Corn Exchange roof, to keep the building protected from weather damage

Structural steel tie-rods were installed to strengthen the 200-year old timber frame, to help keep it standing for another 200 years.

This intricate frame of scaffolding known as a 'bird cage' has been installed in the Corn Exchange to allow construction workers to access the widest span timber frame in the country for the first time in over 200 years.

Close up of the building’s wooden frame taken from the new viewing balcony.

The beautiful Corn Exchange windows.

Restoration of the Art Deco statue depicting Ceres, the Roman Goddess of Agriculture, standing above the Corn Exchange entrance on Church Street.

All under-floor areas were structurally complete including backstage access areas, storage and retractable seating, meaning more space and more variety of shows.

All concrete flooring was in place, and steel foundations for the fixed balcony were installed.

The builders started work on the demolition phase, clearing and excavating the the floor to prepare for the new storage and seating spaces.

Work began to strip the Corn Exchange of all equipment, furnishings and technical lighting to prepare for the building works.