Capacity

Without stage extension 499 (including 4 stewards and 3 wheelchairs)

With stage extension/orchestra pit 439 (including 4 stewards and 3 wheelchairs)

Stage dimensions

17.5m / 57’ (w) x 8.7m / 28’6” (d) without stage extension
17.5m /57’ (w) x 11.4m / 37’4” (d) with stage extension
17.5m / 57’ (w) x 6.8m / 22’3” (d) with orchestra pit

The stage extension covers rows A-C (see seating plan). Its use must be negotiated well in advance of your event, as its installation is a major procedure requiring extra staff. For health and safety reasons, it cannot be installed at short notice.

The Concert Hall has both a seating well containing 60 audience seats, and an orchestra pit. Only one may be used at a time, and it is not possible to employ the stage extension when either is in use.

The seating well is trapezoidal, with dimensions of approximately 11.7m / 38’ (w) x 2.85m / 19’4” (d).

The lid of the orchestra pit is 10.5m / 34’6” (w) x 3.6m / 11’10” (d). It extends partially below the stage and contains a harpsichord platform and a conductor’s podium, and has sufficient outlets to accommodate up to 15 lit music stands. As with the stage extension, use of the orchestra pit must be negotiated well in advance of your event, as, for health and safety reasons, the lid cannot be lifted at short notice.

Risers

Risers may be rented, subject to availability. Dimensions are as follows:

10 risers 6’ x 4’ x 2’ (1.8m x 1.2m x 0.6m)
14 risers 4’ x 4’ x 1’ (1.2m x 1.2m x 0.3m)

The larger risers will accommodate 5-6 standing adults, 3-4 seated adults or 3 adults with instruments, while the smaller risers will accommodate 3-4 standing adults or 2 with chairs or instruments.

Instruments

The Faculty has recently upgraded its two Steinway model D grand pianos and will allocate the most appropriate instrument to your event. If you require a piano to be tuned specifically for your event, we will make the arrangements and apply an extra charge.

Other instruments may be hired through the Cambridge University Musical Society. Please see their website at http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cums/ for details.

Orchestral equipment

120 chairs
80 unlit music stands
1 conductor’s stand
1 conductor’s rostrum

Sound system

The Concert Hall now houses a new PA system. If you require its use, we recommend that an experienced technician is brought or hired in to run it. If you do not have a technician available, we would be happy to recommend one to you. The following equipment is available:

Microphones

2 hand-held Sennheiser Diversity UHF Evolution radio microphones
1 lapel type Sennheiser Diversity UHF Evolution radio microphone
1 hand-held Audio-Technica Cardiod ‘wire type’ microphone
1 microphone floor stand
1 microphone boom arm
1 table stand

Stage area

32 three pin ‘XLR’ sockets microphone pockets in stage floor
4 ‘Speakon’ sockets for stage loudspeakers

Auditorium area

4 loudspeakers on two separate amps to allow the playing of stereo music
Control desk
Patch panel
Sixteen input (microphone or line level) mixing desk plus other music inputs
Record and replay facilities

Induction hearing loop

Show Relay System that can reach backstage areas and foyer
A private intercom system linking the control desk, prompt corner, box office/security desk and production office

Dance flooring:

Black Harlequin ‘Studio’ flooring is available for hire, covering the width and depth of the Concert Hall platform. The hirer must provide gaffer tape and lay and take up the flooring according to their own requirements.

Foyer and Bar

The bright and spacious foyer contains a fully licensed bar which is available, on request, for events requiring pre-concert and interval drinks. Owing to licensing laws, we cannot allow you to run your own bar, as alcohol must be sold by the university and not by promoters. The bar can also serve a limited range of drinks and snacks for small private receptions. If more sophisticated catering is required, a facility fee of £1 is levied per head to cover disruption and cleaning costs. For further information on catering, please see our catering page.

It is possible that events occurring simultaneously will be required to share use of the foyer, but this should be discussed at an early stage of booking.

Recital Room

The Recital Room is a versatile space seating up to approximately 100 people theatre style. Its flat floor and flexible lighting design make it suitable for smaller concerts and recitals, as well as for workshops or rehearsals. It is acoustically isolated from the Concert Hall and it is therefore possible for events to occur in both simultaneously. Recital Room bookings include use of its Schimmel grand piano and potentially shared use of the Foyer.

Lecture Rooms

There are five lecture rooms available for use as green rooms or rehearsal space. Their capacities are approximately as follows:

Lecture Room 1: 40 (flat floored)

Lecture Room 2: 60 (fixed raked seating)

Lecture Room 3: 40 (flat floored, containing 2 pianos)

Lecture Room 4: 40 (flat floored)

Lecture Room 5: 40 (flat floored)

Each room contains a piano and a stereo stack.

There are also two small dressing rooms, each containing an upright piano and a speaker attached to the Show Relay System.

Standard Conditions of Hire

View our Terms and Conditions of hire (PDF file, 132Kb).