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Buxton's new theatre will open right on cue
BUXTON'S new £2.5m Pavilion Arts Centre is firmly on schedule to open at the end of September.
The redevelopment of the former Paxton Suite, will provide a unique theatre and exhibition space with top class facilities.
The building, which was initially opened as the Pavilion Theatre in 1889, has been carefully restored to its original status, including the restoration of the balcony area that had been covered for over 30 years.
The Arts Centre offers a dual-purpose venue that the local community can utilise. The Pavilion Arts Centre will be home to local junior, youth and student theatre companies as well as touring exhibitions and shows.
The versatility of the space — a 93-seat studio theatre with retractable seating; 80 sqm of workshop space; main auditorium of 360 seats with retractable seating; and flat floor exhibition/workshop space of 200 sqm — ensures that the venue can be used for a wide range of events including weddings and conferences.
Community
A 10-day festival commencing on Friday September 24 will celebrate the opening. Opening with Chalkfoot Theatre Arts production of Tom McGrath's play Laurel & Hardy, and including highlights such as Room on the Broom, a new musical adventure for children from the creators of The Gruffalo (26 & 27 Sept) as well as the extremely talented (and extremely silly!) string trio Pluck (30 Sept) and Britain's favourite comic poet John Hegley (3 Oct), the Ten Days festival will showcase the redevelopment.
The new venue is to be jointly managed by High Peak Theatre Trust (Buxton Opera House), who will use it as a second venue, and High Peak Borough Council who will use it for conferences, meetings, fairs and exhibitions. The Buxton Festival, Buxton Festival Fringe and International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival will also use the venue for part of their programmes each summer.
Terry Crawford, Head of Visitor Services for the Council, said: 'The completion of the Centre is a vital piece in Buxton's Pavilion Garden complex. Buxton now has a facility to cater for everything from small-scale productions and exhibitions to weddings and conferences. I hope the local community will enjoy using the venue as much as the visitor."
Andrew Aughton, Chief Executive of Buxton Opera House, added: 'The Opera House has a first rate reputation and attracts quality productions, so it's great that we can now offer promoters an alternative venue as well as providing local drama groups with a space to perform.'
The Pavilion Arts Centre opens its doors to the public on 18 September with an Open Day (10am-4pm, free entry) and Ten Days, the official opening festival, runs from 24 September to 3 October.
Pavilion Arts Centre tickets are available at the Opera House Box Office on 0845 127 2190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk to view a full list of events and book tickets online.
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Weather for Buxton
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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