Last month, we had the pleasure of joining IIDA CinDay for their Inspire Me Series tour of The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Our tour was led by members of the design team from GBBN as well as members of the Cincy Shakes team. Drawing inspiration from and paying homage to historical theatres such as The Globe Theatre, while keeping in mind the needs of today, Cincy Shakes displays a raw but refined attitude toward design and materials. The reclaimed barn wood wasn’t added for a “farmhouse feel” but instead draws its inspiration from theatres past, many of which were constructed with found materials and whatever was readily available at the time of construction.
Our favorite design elements within the space were the layers and moments of discovery, when you, as the user, find something when you weren’t expecting to find it. Case in point, an old chandelier used in the new design above the mesh ceiling, or the names of Shakespeare plays in the risers of the main staircase. And let’s not forget about the bathrooms. We definitely judge an overall design based on the design of their bathrooms, and these bathrooms do not disappoint. Keeping scrolling to see some of our favorite photos, and if you haven’t been to Cincy Shakes yet, we highly suggest catching a show there soon!