Archived press release

Date Published: 20/02/07

Visitors to the Buckingham Centre will have the chance to view a model of the new theatre being built in Aylesbury. The model, together with an animated DVD of the interior, will be displayed at the new one-stop shop in Verney Close on 2 March be...

Visitors to the Buckingham Centre will have the chance to view a model of the new theatre being built in Aylesbury.

The model, together with an animated DVD of the interior, will be displayed at the new one-stop shop in Verney Close on 2 March between 10am and 4pm.

The multi-million pound theatre development is to be built on the southern side of Exchange Street, where the former Bucks Herald and Wilkins Solicitors offices were located. The land is currently being used as a temporary car park.

The arts and entertainment venue is part of the council’s Waterside scheme – an ambitious project to redevelop Aylesbury town centre, which will also create a new shopping area in Exchange Street, including a department and food store, as well as housing developments alongside the canal and at Circus Field.

The new theatre will be bigger than the Civic Centre and will offer more flexibility for users. The main hall will be able to accommodate 1,200 people for seated events, such as drama or dance productions, or 1,800 for standing events such as rock concerts. The theatre also contains a second space, suitable for smaller drama productions, conferences, workshops and community use.

Work will start on site in mid-April. Site hoardings erected around the perimeter of the site will be used for information, pictures and community art. Several hoardings will have viewing windows so that people can see what’s happening as the building takes shape.

Matthew Partridge, Head of Leisure and Cultural Services, said: “The model of the theatre and the DVD really help bring the scale and scope of this project to life. The new theatre will be of regional importance and represents a significant investment in meeting the current and future cultural needs of Aylesbury Vale. The people of Buckingham, many of whom work in Aylesbury, will be able to enjoy a wide variety of performances at a state-of-the-art facility less than 20 miles from their doorsteps. We are encouraging as many residents as possible to see the theatre model and DVD as this development is for the benefit of everyone in the district.”

The DVD will shortly be available on the AVDC website (www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk) so that people who can’t visit the display can still get a feel for how the theatre will be.

In the meantime, the Civic Centre will continue to offer a full programme of events until at least January 2008.