West Norfolk school offers performance space for wider community

With the historic St George’s Guildhall closed for refurbishment, a King’s Lynn school has stepped up to offer its newly improved facilities to performers in the area – thanks to funding from the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Both the Drama Studio and Peter Hopkins Hall at Springwood High School have benefited from extensive makeovers, which included the installation of new, state-of-the-art lighting, costing more than £80,000, to bring the performance spaces up to the standard of the town’s theatres.

“The new lighting has been funded by the borough council’s Community Infrastructure Levy, with support from the school’s PTFA,” explained Matt Austin, Art Technician at Springwood, a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust. 

“The total spend, including the school’s contribution, was £82,000 all told, with £70,000 of that coming from CIL. This provided all-new, high-spec, LED lighting for both of the main performance halls, as well as works to the electrical infrastructure of both halls to facilitate the use of those lights.

“The lighting costs to the school will be reduced in total between five and ten-fold, with the drastically reduced bills for electricity, maintenance, and consumables that LED brings over tungsten lighting. 

“In addition, audiences will be far more comfortable than when sharing a room with hot, tungsten lights, and the quality of the lighting will be on a par with the town’s theatres.”

The upgraded facilities have already attracted performers from the community, with the King’s Lynn Players recently staging a production in the Springwood Drama Studio.

“We staged King’s Lynn Players’ The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which was the first use of our new lighting,” continued Mr Austin. “They were the first local dramatics society to benefit from the newly refitted space.

“Others are set to follow, as Springwood offers to fill the gap left by the Guildhall’s absence over the next few years.

“Including our own events, we have Battle of the Bands, a dance show after Easter, several concerts (including our outdoor festival), a school play, a fashion show, a KLODS play (King’s Lynn Operatic and Dramatic Society) , an independent panto from local entrepreneur Jordan Winn, and we welcome in 2026 with our production of Les Miserables.”

Other improvements include refurbishment of the retractable seating in the Drama Studio, along with the installation of similar seating in the Peter Hopkins Hall, again with help from King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council’s CIL.

“The school has long sought to bring the local community together through performance, be it with music, drama, dance, even fashion shows,” added Mr Austin, who planned and oversaw the work on both venues.

“Equipment deficiencies had been laid bare, and, as a result, demands had spiraled. Covering these costs was no longer possible within the school budget, and the school’s involvement in the community would have suffered as things were scaled back. This fresh investment means we can now continue to offer that support, even extending it. 

“Without an affordable venue like Springwood, and with the town struggling generally for venues, the entertainment available to the community, and the opportunities to perform, could dwindle.

“As a performing arts status school, this outlet for creativity has always been at the forefront of what we do.”

Believed to be the country’s oldest working theatre, the Guildhall, in King Street, is undergoing a massive £20m renovation project designed to secure the future of the 600-year-old venue. Medieval floorboards believed to have been walked on by no less than Shakespeare himself have already been uncovered.