Archived press release

Date Published: 25/05/07

A ceremony to mark the start of work on the eagerly anticipated £26 million theatre in Aylesbury was held on 24 May. Councillor Sue Polhill, Chairman of Aylesbury Vale District Council, cut a sod from the ground on the development site sout...

A ceremony to mark the start of work on the eagerly anticipated £26 million theatre in Aylesbury was held on 24 May.

Councillor Sue Polhill, Chairman of Aylesbury Vale District Council, cut a sod from the ground on the development site south of Exchange Street, where the former Bucks Herald and Wilkins Solicitors offices used to be.

The sod cutting ceremony was Councillor Polhill’s final act as the first citizen of the district after two years in the role. She brought the curtain down on her time as Chairman at the annual meeting of the council later that same day when a new councillor took up the position.

The theatre development 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 district’s show-stopping theatre will stage a wide and varied range of arts and entertainment activities and is expected to attract upwards of 300,000 visitors each year from across the Vale and beyond. It will be equipped with the most up-to-date technology and facilities including:

• An auditorium that will be able to accommodate 1,200 people for seated events, such as dance or drama productions, or 1,800 for standing events such as rock concerts
• A motorised floor in the main hall that can be raised for different acts
• A fly tower and counterweight flying system with 60 lines. This will allow scenery to be moved vertically high above the stage
• A high specification lighting and sound rig enabling the theatre to house shows from large West End musicals to concerts and dramas
• A second space for up to 220 people, suitable for smaller drama productions, conferences, workshops and community use

The architectural design of the new theatre has been created by internationally renowned architects, Arts Team. The concept put forward by the architects has been inspired by local features. The undulating roof reflects the shape of the neighbouring Chiltern Hills and the use of timber columns is reminiscent of the surrounding woodland areas.

Outside the new theatre a pleasant open space will be created, planted with shrubs and well lit at night. Bear Brook itself will be widened and landscaped to encourage wildlife to flourish and create a nature corridor along the length of the Waterside development.

Cheetham Hill Construction is currently undertaking the preliminary work on the site, which will involve checking for underground pipes and power cables, moving the brook so the kink is taken out and building a bridge near the side of the old bakery so that lorries delivering props and other items can get onto Walton Street.

Giant pile driving equipment will arrive on site in the summer and begin drilling the foundations of the building. This will include the creation of a basement which will accommodate the hydraulics for the theatre seats, and the sound booth.

The second contractors will take over at the end of the year for two years of building. It is expected that the theatre building will be completed in autumn 2009 with the entertainment programme likely to commence in January 2010.

AVDC has invited tenders from a shortlist of contractors for the below ground-level construction work. A decision on the successful tender is expected to be announced in early July.

The theatre will be managed on the council’s behalf by a commercial operator who will be appointed in the near future. In the meantime, the existing Civic Centre will continue to offer a full programme of events until at least Easter 2008.

Councillor Sue Polhill, Chairman of the Council, said: “I am really delighted that all the hard work in recent years, by so many people, will bring a much-wanted new theatre to Aylesbury. The contractors have now started work and we look forward to seeing the new theatre taking shape over the coming months. We all await with great anticipation and excitement for the opening in 2009.

“The Civic Centre has long provided the local community with a wide selection of events and entertainments and we anticipate that we’ll be able to attract an even greater range of high quality shows, including West End tours, when the new theatre is complete.

“The venue will of course provide fantastic new facilities for the many amateur groups and societies. The main auditorium has been designed with acoustically transparent partitions to reduce the venue for smaller audiences and the second function space will provide for more intimate events.”

Norman Bragg, Principal Director of Arts Team, said: “It is such an exciting prospect that in the coming months we will see the theatre beginning to appear here in Exchange Street for the benefit of all those living and working in Aylesbury.”

If you find it difficult to imagine what the new theatre is going to look like on Exchange Street, take a look round courtesy of a virtual tour prepared by Arts Team. To find out more visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk