The Penguin Club often builds scenery for the groups that it works with. Whilst this is often done in homes/garages of people who are involved with a show, some groups and theatres are lucky enough to have better workshop facilities.
Listed below is a list of workshops suitable for set building. These facilities are not owned by The Penguin Club, and we generally can't help you arrange to use them. Please contact the relevant owners of each facility if you want to make use of them.
ADC Theatre Workshop
Park Street
Cambridge
CB5 8AS
NB: The ADC is closed for refurbishment until September 2018. Items may be borrowed by prior arrangement but no set building space is currently available.
The ADC Theatre has a small but well-equipped workshop under the main stage. This workshop can be used for free by any show that is performing at the theatre but access is by arrangement with the management (typically it's available after the previous show's get-in). Restrictions on workshop use apply during an hour of quiet time on Sunday morning and during the dress rehearsal of other shows using the venue. The workshop can't be used during performances of other shows for anything other than quiet painting (at the descretion of the duty manager) because any sound carries up to the stage.
It may be possible to arrange additional time in the workshop by negotiation with the theatre management and the preceding shows, but this is not guaranteed and is very much dependent on how much space is needed by those other shows.
The workshop is equipped with a large selection of hand tools and power tools, though the power tools can only be used by people who have received training in their operation by the theatre management. Staff are usually happy to provide training by prior arrangement, and you should contact the ADC Theatre for more information about this.
There is also a collection of stock flats, drapes , furniture, and metrodeck/treads that may be used for free by shows performing at the theatre. A very small amount of this stock is available to hire, at cost, for use in other venues. In both instances you should contact the ADC Theatre for more information about what's available. Technical information is available on the theatre's website .
Lolworth Barn
Hill Farm
Huntingdon Road
Lolworth
Cambridge
CB23 8DP
Lolworth Barn is a set storage facility with space for set building and painting, in some barns at Hill Farm, Lolworth. The barns are rented by Bawds and Combined Actors of Cambridge , and if you're building set for one of their shows, you'll be able to use the space for free. There may be a small hire charge if you want to build set for another group, and this may be dependent on the time and space required by Bawds and Combined Actors of Cambridge .
There are a large number of stock flats (of varying quality), and also a furniture and an extensive props store. Subject to availability, Bawds and Combined are happy to lend out items (scenery, furniture and props) to other local groups in return for a donation appropriate to the group and the show.
The barn has space to work on large pieces of scenery, but is only equipped with a small selection of hand tools. Electricity is available if you want to take your own power tools. The barn can get super cold in winter, so it advisable to wrap up well if visiting. The barn does have a kettle and microwave for the preparation of hot drinks and food, but that is all.
Access to the barn is only possible from the Southbound carriageway of the A14. If you are travelling North from Cambridge, continue past the turning to Lolworth until you reach Cambridge Services (junction 28). Leave the A14 here, and turn round to rejoin the Southbound carriageway. Access to Hill Farm is then possible via a left turn at the second T-Junction with the A14 (there isn't a slip-road, so take care!). You can spot the junction approaching by the row of houses that line the road to the farm. NB This may change as the A14 building works progress!
