- Location: Fukuoka, Japan
- Architect: John Simones Architect
- Construction: 1995
- Renovation: 2017
- Number of seats: 1,144
The Canal City Theater in Hakata undergoes renovation in its 22nd year of operation. Canal City Theater is an entertainment theater where various performances such as musicals, plays and rakugo (comic storytelling) are held in Canal City Hakata, a large shopping mall that opened in 1996.
The extensive renovation work carried out 22 years after the opening of the theater has also involved the renovation of the auditorium, which had long been in a state of disrepair.
The new seats, made of natural wood, are designed in a furniture style that evokes a sense of calm and luxury. The number of seats (1,144) remains the same as before the renovation.
Three innovations have been introduced to improve visitor satisfaction:
The first is the shape of the seat. We have adopted Kotobuki Seating’s latest model, “Spacia”. This shape, which becomes thinner as it reaches the top, creates more space around the feet, making it easier not only to see, but also to get in and out of the seat.
Secondly, the shape of the legs. Normally, when a person is seated, the passage between him and the seat in front of him narrows, making it difficult to pass.
Third, the shape of the backrest. In the second floor seats, where the seat pitch is greater, it is safe to have a place to rest your hands to support your body when going up and down the stairs in the aisle. This time, instead of installing a handrail, we created a natural “grabber” by deforming a part of the dashboard to a longer length for easy gripping.
Evolution and inheritance of seats
The staggered seating arrangement, previously used only at the front of the center block, has been adopted for the entire center block.
This not only facilitates the audience’s view of the stage, but also allows performers to adjust the seats to a position where the light source from the audience’s guiding lights is less visible. The seat upholstery is a brighter red, without compromising the existing image. Combined with the carpeting, it preserves the image of the theater that has endured for 20 years and will continue.
The Little Mermaid, a new dimensional musical from Shiki Theatre Company and Disney, is scheduled to begin performances in the summer of 2017, and the newly renovated theater is expected to be even more spectacular and lively.
