Drama production hub follows success of Sharp Project
A former Fujitsu factory in West Gorton, Manchester, is being transformed into a new drama production hub in a £10m refurbishment project.
The 360,000 sq ft site will become home to over 50,000 sq ft of production space spread across five high spec stages, along with a support infrastructure including construction workshops, prop stores, and flexible office space for short and long term production rentals.
Refurbishment work has started at the centre in Wenlock Way, which is taking bookings from May of next year.
The drama facility is part of Manchester City Council's digital asset base that has been created following the success of The Sharp Project.
The architect for the project is Alistair Weir of PRP Architects, who also designed The Sharp Project. Willmott Dixon is the contractor and MACE is project manager.
The new development was devised by Sue Woodward OBE, project director at The Sharp Project.
She said: "Demand has grown for space since we opened the stages at the Sharp Project, to the extent that we have had to repeatedly turn productions away.
"This, coupled with the tax incentive programme, made a sound business case for investment. Production companies know that we go that extra mile to help them make great content and it is this attitude towards our clients, backed by great talent across the North, which is already driving huge interest in the new site, even before the steel is in the ground."
