“It’s business as usual” – that’s the message from Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts following an accident during which the stage, dressing rooms and technical equipment in the venue’s theatre suffered extensive water damage. The theatre will remain closed for the summer while repairs are carried out.
The incident was contained entirely within the theatre, meaning the remainder of the building, including the centre’s concert hall, Sherling Studio, cinema, gallery and function room spaces are still fully operational.
Lighthouse has reviewed the programme of events scheduled to take place in the theatre for the remainder of the summer season and its programming and operational teams have worked closely with companies due to perform in the theatre during July with an aim to relocate them into the concert hall.
Many of these companies include local dance and performing arts schools, including Bournemouth’s Swish of the Curtain Theatre School who were due to perform their musicals showcase Come Alive in the theatre this week. The show has now been successfully relocated to the concert hall.
“Swish of the Curtain Theatre school are hugely grateful to not only their own hardworking team but also to the huge support they have received from Lighthouse in facilitating their sudden move to the concert hall. Instrumental to this has also been the technical support from local sound and lighting company, CPS, who have worked through the night with Swish to ensure that the show must go on!” commented Chris Witham from Swish of the Curtain.
Sara St George, Deputy CEO for Lighthouse said: “We’d like to thank all the companies who were due to perform in the theatre this month for their understanding, patience and flexibility during what has been an incredibly difficult and disruptive week for us all. It’s heartening to see everybody pulling together to ensure these performances are able to go ahead.”
Other performances that will now take place in the concert hall include A Night to Honour Israel (18 July) and Popcorn from Poole Academy of Dance (20-21 July).
Movie Mayhem from Emma Castle Performing Arts has new dates and will now take place in the concert hall from 25-26 July. If you have already booked tickets for this event please note that all Friday tickets will be allocated to the Wednesday evening performance, and Saturday tickets will be allocated to the Thursday performance. Tickets for the original performance dates will remain valid.
As Lighthouse returns to business as normal, this weekend also sees French circus company Circa Tsuica perform three big top shows in Hamworthy Park in celebration of the arts centre’s 40th anniversary.
