Now in Production: Our New Auditorium Seats
We are taking another major step forward in the An Icon for Everyone transformation project with the introduction of brand-new seating, coming later this year to the De La Warr Pavilion auditorium. This project, in partnership with Rother District Council, will refurbish and redevelop this pioneering centre for the arts by transforming/modernising the original 1935 auditorium, creating new community and learning spaces, improving accessibility and ensuring business and environmental sustainability.
These new seats, specified by architects Haworth Tompkins and innovative theatre experience consultants, Charcoal Blue, have been designed and produced by seating specialists Audience Systems, drawing on the original auditorium colour palette by Serge Chermayeff and made with walnut veneer backs to echo the original panelling in the Auditorium.
Here is a behind the scenes look at Bute Fabrics where our bespoke fabric is being woven on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. Established in 1947, Bute Fabrics specialise in weaving textured fabrics, combining time-honoured weaving techniques to create textiles that are grounded, versatile, and made to last.
Leah Harrison Bailey, the Capital Project Director said: “It’s truly wonderful to see, after months of work, that the new auditorium chairs are now in production. We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with such prestigious partners and skilled craftspeople. It is fantastic to see Bute Fabrics bringing the seat fabric to life, and especially meaningful to maintain our connection with our sister pavilion in Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, so close to Bute Fabrics.”
The project also links to repairs to the auditorium’s stage lift, which is used to store and move seating beneath the stage during standing events and performances.
You can be part of this all. Join our Your Seat in History campaign and support the vital works to our auditorium and foyers while becoming part of its future. By donating to Your Seat in History, you can celebrate a memory, honour a loved one, or simply have your own name engraved on a plaque on the back of one of our new seats.
You can also come and test the new seats currently in our main foyer!
An Icon For Everyone is made possible through De La Warr Pavilion’s partnership with Rother District Council, and the generous support of the UK Government, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Chalk Cliff Trust, Foyle Foundation, and Suzy Eddie Izzard.
Posted by Joel Cheshire on Friday 29 May 2026