Archived press release

Date Published: 06/09/07

Aylesbury’s Civic Centre will remain open and offer a full programme of events until the end of July 2008, it was revealed yesterday (4 September). The venue on Market Square – which is owned and run by Aylesbury Vale District Council...

Aylesbury’s Civic Centre will remain open and offer a full programme of events until the end of July 2008, it was revealed yesterday (4 September).

The venue on Market Square – which is owned and run by Aylesbury Vale District Council – will then close to make way for the Waterside retail scheme.

The Civic Centre is a key site within the proposed multi-million pound retail development and will be replaced by a new state-of-the-art theatre which is currently under construction in Exchange Street.

At a meeting of AVDC’s cabinet last night, councillors agreed to close the Civic Centre on 31 July 2008 to allow work to start on the new shopping area.

The council previously estimated that the gap between the Civic Centre closing and the new theatre opening would not exceed 103 weeks. With work on the theatre building already underway, the council has now lowered its forecast to 76 weeks.

The new £27 million theatre will be bigger than the Civic Centre and will offer more flexibility for users. It will have a 1,200-seat auditorium that converts into a 1,800-capacity hall, and a 220-seat suite for smaller events including dance, drama, meetings and conferences. The venue is scheduled to be completed in autumn 2009.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “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 deliver an even broader range of high quality performances to the Vale when the new theatre is complete. There are a huge number of interesting and exciting acts lined up for the Civic Centre’s final year and we intend to give the venue the send-off it deserves.”

The Civic Centre – which was opened by the then Chairman of the District Council, Councillor Anthony E Mogford, on 2 September 1975 – has enjoyed a rich and colourful history. The Police, Dionne Warwick, Norman Wisdom, Genesis and Dire Straits are just some of the famous names who have performed at the venue over the past 32 years.

Although the Civic Centre closes in 2008, its last year of operation is jam-packed with great events. Peter Pan (8 to 30 December) will be the venue’s biggest and best pantomime ever, starring Paul Daniels and the lovely Debbie McGee.

To see out 2007, the Civic hosts the New Year’s Eve party to end them all, Bond Baby Bond. Featuring a cocktail bar, live bands, a prize casino, and cabaret acts, the evening is billed as a mix between James Bond and Austin Powers.

Call the box office on 01296 486009 for tickets for all the shows or visit the website at www.aylesburycivic.co.uk for details of the programme of events.

To find out more about the new theatre, go to www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and click on the link on the home page for a virtual tour.