Extended opening for Aylesbury Civic Centre
Archived press release
Date Published: 13/03/09
Aylesbury Civic Centre could stay open until the new Waterside Theatre is completed in 2010.
It was originally planned that the Civic Centre would close on 30 June 2009 but this week Aylesbury Vale District Council cabinet members recommended that the venue should be kept open longer.
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee will now be held on 23 March to consider the budgetary implications.
The Civic Centre is scheduled to be demolished to make way for the multi-million pound Waterside retail scheme. Its closure could be put off until as late as July 2010, or an earlier date triggered by progress on the development.
Subject to the outcome of the General Purposes Committee meeting, the Civic Centre would once again host a family pantomime during the festive season. This year’s show has been provisionally confirmed as Jack and the Beanstalk and is set to feature the return of some familiar faces from previous panto performances.
There would also be a “Black and White Domino Ball” to see out 2009 and the Aylesbury Festival Choir, in association with AVDC, would hold their popular Carols for Everyone concert in the run up to Christmas.
Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “For nearly 35 years, the Civic Centre has been at the heart of arts and entertainment in the Vale. We’re able to keep the Civic Centre open longer than anticipated, which means our customers won’t be deprived of a much-loved venue. Its replacement will be an improved, bigger and more flexible theatre, which will mark the start of an exciting new era of arts provision in Aylesbury Vale.”
Work is well underway on the exciting new Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, which is currently being built at Exchange Street. The venue will be managed by the Ambassador Theatre Group, who run the very successful Milton Keynes Theatre.
For information on events at the Civic Centre, visit the website at www.aylesburycivic.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01296 486009.