FAQs

Who are Row G's consultants?

Row G connects clients with experienced practitioners who are actively working in the industry — not just advising on it. The people we bring to a project are making events happen right now, which means the advice is grounded in how venues actually operate today.

We have a personal stake in getting it right. As active venue operators and touring practitioners ourselves, we work in spaces like yours — so we understand what's at stake when the brief isn't right.

What does theatre consultancy cost?

Fees vary with the scale, complexity, and scope of the project — auditorium size, stage engineering, technical infrastructure, and programme length all play a part.

Early appointment almost always reduces total project cost. Problems identified at concept stage are cheap to resolve on paper and expensive to fix in a building under construction.

Contact us to arrange a time to talk through your project — no cost, no commitment.

What does a theatre consultant do?

A theatre consultant is a specialist adviser who helps clients plan, design, and operate performance spaces. We bridge the gap between architectural design and the practical realities of running a venue — making sure the building works as well for the people using it as it looks on paper.

That means getting involved early to shape decisions about auditorium layout, sightlines, stage configuration, technical infrastructure, and backstage workflow. It also means working with existing venues to upgrade systems, improve operations, or adapt spaces for changing needs.

Do I need a theatre consultant for an educational performing arts space?

Educational spaces are some of the hardest to get right — they need to serve as theatre, concert venue, exam room, and community space, often in the same week. Without specialist input they tend to end up inflexible, under-specified, or equipped with systems too complex for students and non-specialist staff to use confidently.

Row G helps education clients get the brief right, choose appropriate equipment, and build spaces that work for everyone who uses them.

What is a technical theatre feasibility study?

A feasibility study is a structured investigation into whether a venue project is viable and what the realistic options are for taking it forward. It is usually the right starting point for any client who has a site or existing building but isn't yet certain which direction to take.

The output is a decision-support document — not a design — giving clients the evidence they need to decide whether to proceed, on what basis, and with what risks.

For new venues the focus is on auditorium geometry, infrastructure requirements, and indicative capital costs. For existing venues it begins with a condition survey before mapping realistic upgrade options. In both cases Row G works closely with the client to establish what the space needs to do before translating that into layout proposals, specifications, and cost benchmarks.

Why do tender documents matter?

A poorly written brief is one of the most common sources of cost overruns in venue projects. If the documentation doesn't clearly define what a system needs to achieve, suppliers will fill the gaps themselves — and rarely in the client's favour.

Good tender documents make responses comparable, reduce the risk of variations, and set the ceiling for what gets built. Part of that process is establishing what matters most to the client — whole-of-life cost, ease of operation, future flexibility, supplier support — and building that into how responses are evaluated. That way the decision isn't just about price.

Row G writes documentation that reflects where the industry is now and where it's heading.