Chester Performs hails "excellent" new performing arts centre plans
Chester Performs, the organisation leading the development of the City’s new performing arts centre on behalf of Chester City Council, have released more details of the exciting designs for the new centre.
New plans are due to be submitted to the city planners by ING, the City’s development partner for the Northgate scheme.
The scheme features two auditoria on the same level with another at first floor level. The overall capacities stand at 550, 160 and 120, the last space mainly for rehearsals and hospitality. The main auditorium has a large stage, with an extension that reaches slightly into the audience whilst the audience will enjoy an intimate atmosphere through seating galleries over three levels.
Andrew Bentley is Chester Performs’ project manager:
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to support the revised plans for this excellent development. Since the closure of the Gateway there has been a definite hiatus and feeling that Chester has lost its way as a culturally vibrant City. The new performing arts centre is not just a theatre, it will be a space for music, and dance, and film as well. The combination of the three spaces, which are acoustically separated from each other, will allow three different events to take place at the same time, whilst also providing first class rehearsal and production spaces for bigger shows.
When the original plans were first drawn up there was some worry from local performing groups that the centre would not be somewhere for them, and not as good as the old Gateway. We have tried to address these concerns and we have made sure for instance that theatre societies can fly sets and store props with plenty of accommodation for groups and individuals. For music societies, school choirs and orchestras there is a large stage, a removable proscenium arch and acoustic devices to provide excellent acoustics for natural music. For film fans there will be regular independent films screened in the second auditorium.
The foyers and bars can accommodate audiences for all three spaces and the whole building is set with a festival style square with cafes and restaurants surrounding the new centre. Both the second and third spaces have natural light and will be ideal for communities to rehearse, make work and meet to exchange ideas.
As well as a new home for Chester’s many theatre and music societies and for its arts communities, the new centre will also be a centre of excellence in its own right. Chester rightly has ambitions as a great European destination. The days of puritan arts buildings should be behind us and this new iconic building for Chester reflects both its history and ambitions”.
At around 25% bigger than the Gateway, the new main auditorium is considered a good size for both theatre and music. Andrew Bentley continues:
“There has been some call for a larger space, especially for music, for some events at peak times, but in reality we need to make a sensible compromise. Chester does not have the drive times of Liverpool or Manchester and could only muster larger audiences on a very small number of occasions. It’s important we don’t overpower theatre and dance, and most music audiences, with too many empty seats. From a classical music perspective, there is a real gap in mid scale concert spaces in the northwest. Because the Liverpool Phil and Bridgewater Hall are so large, there leaves nowhere for chamber music and recitals, choirs, early music, jazz and small opera performances. This is a real appetite amongst the region’s musicians to be able to perform in a more intimate space. Chester can fill that gap and provide a perfect backdrop for festival programming as our colleagues within the region and beyond testify”.
Bob Reilly, Chief Executive, Manchester Camerata “Manchester Camerata has been making music in Chester for many years and is committed to being a part of Chester’s long term plans. The proposed concert space in Chester would provide us with the perfect platform, not only for traditional chamber orchestra repertoire, but for new and exciting musical events that cannot be currently accommodated within the larger concert halls.”
Andrew Cornall, Executive Director (Orchestra, Ensembles, Education), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society “…. at 550 seats, I believe it is just the right size as well. I think it should be perfect for Chester to attract a whole host of events that find the Bridgewater and Liverpool Philharmonic too large and similarly not compete with these easily accessible larger halls. Indeed, there is a real shortage of good halls of this type and particularly in our area. It will come as no surprise to you that one of our discussions here at the Phil has been to look at developing a hall of this size, though that will be some years off yet – if it ever happens – by which time Chester will be up and running and also being a huge success”
Ian Tabbron, Head of Theatre, Arts Council England North West “The Arts Council England welcomes this significant stage in the progress of the remarkable plans towards building a world-class arts centre for Chester. The building footprint has been brilliantly managed to provide scope for an exciting range of creative and cultural activity. The generous stage area and audience capacity within the main auditorium exemplifies the fine balance in planning for both artistic and business ambitions. The Arts Council will continue to support the partners towards the successful realization of these plans”
Chester Performs is making the full plans for the new centre available on its web site as soon as they are submitted, and they can be contacted on 01244 409113.
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Background Chester Performs is overseeing the development of the city’s new performing arts centre, which will open in 2011. Set to challenge audiences with a series of high profile performing arts events and community projects Chester Performs aims is to broaden horizons and raise the level of expectation In the performing arts both in Chester and Cheshire.
Following the closure of Chester Gateway Theatre, Chester Performs will be working with the region’s artists and communities and plans to stage work in non-traditional and outdoor spaces across the region. They are staging “Up The Wall”, a celebration of the city walls in light, theatre and sound, on 9th and 10th November.
Chester Performs Contact: Amber Jones Tel: 01244 409113
Press Contacts: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mob: 07785 395705 Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370 Tel: 01244 330000 MARKETING PROJECTS Email: info@marketingprojects.co.uk
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