Chester’s new theatre named
The £37.5m project to deliver Chester's eagerly awaited theatre, library and cinema will be called RE: NEW, Cheshire West & Chester Council said.
The former Odeon cinema in Northgate Street will open in 2016, the council said. Funding is expected to come mainly from the council's capital budget. The council is also applying for grants from Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.
Cllr Stuart Parker, executive member for culture and economy, said: "RE: NEW is a fitting name given this project is all about breathing new life into an iconic 1930s building.
"The name also signifies the enormous regeneration potential of the new cultural centre. We estimate its economic impact to be £21m per year – creating jobs and bringing wealth into the region.
"RE: NEW can already been seen on the Commerce House demolition site and the name will be used in a variety of imaginative ways as this exciting development gathers pace."
Andrew Bentley of Chester Performs, the Chester-based arts producer which will run the new theatre, said: "It couldn't be a better name for this truly transformational project. The new cultural centre will completely transform the city's main street, and its night-time economy, in a truly inclusive and family friendly fashion. It's so heartening to see first signs of the building starting to take shape."
The project will combine a new building housing an 800-seat theatre with the refurbished grade 2-listed Odeon, containing library, café, study spaces and cinema.
What a depressing name!
By Anonymous
The name might, only might, be acceptable now but has no shelf life. Poor choice in my view. Something linked to creative inspiration would have been a better shout. Sounds like a fund for replacing street furniture.
By ill-fitting
Ludicrous name. Sounds like an anti wrinkle cream. Completely lacks any gravitas which should be deserving of a theatre.
By Rachel
Ridiculously Expensive Nasty Enormous Waste (RENEW)
By D. Trout
Hang on this redevleopmnet is in Chester and what does Chester have:- an Amphitheatre. So Call it the Amphitheatre. While some may argue that tourist may get lost having two things called the Amphitheatre, to resolve this you call one The Roman Amphitheatre and the other the New Amphitheatre
By Jon
Jon – why create a problem for yourself? Don’t call in Renew, don’t call it the Amphitheatre, call it something credible. Renew is just awful.
By LJA
Northwich gets 12.5million centre Chester gets 38million out of capital budget this is the reason why most northwich people hate this council not just because of its name which is so decriminating To northwich people but it’s a relationship which never should of been formed Bring back vale royal borough council or like in 1974 we were part of the greater manchester new district paper.
By John
hope they didn’t pay somebody for that name choice
By Anonymous