Downpatrick Boasts Hippest Theatre In Northern Ireland
16 February 2012 |
Posted by Anne O'Hare |
AMID a great deal of drama and excitement a £1.4 MILLION of leading edge theatre has finally arrived in Downpatrick, after several years in the planning, writes Anne O'Hare.
The new Down Arts facility is the concerted effort of both the Public Realm Scheme and the regeneration of Scotch Street and it is hoped it will draw twice as many visitors to the town than before.
Ahead of its official opening next month, Ian Davidson, the Arts Development Manager thanked the projects main funders in a special interview with Down News.
Artist-in-residence Diane Lyness with Arts Officer Denise Griffiths, looking over the Bobby Hanvey photo exhibition
He said: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board as well as Down District Council have made this project a reality and now Downpatrick can boast having the best theatre for any large town across the province. And we are very grateful.”
This major refurbishment is just another chapter in its 132-year history. Down Arts Centre began life as a humble civic building where the important events of the day were hotly debated. And below remained a medieval market place.
The Venetian Gothic red brick building replaced the old Market House in 1892 and became a theatre house. It was built at the sole expense of John Mulholland (the first Lord Dunleath) and was designed by William Butt of Belfast. The tall clock tower became a distinctive feature and is still maintained today.
However, in 1979 disaster struck. A hay cart parked below the beautiful old building caught fire and it spread throughout the theatre, and was rendered unusable for almost 25 years
Relief carving classes are now running in the Down Arts Centre
Ian explains the New Arts Centre threw open its doors a few weeks ago with its first exhibition. The photographs of Downpatrick man Bobby Hanvey always raise an eyebrow or two in delight, and it proved to be a great start to the Down Arts Centre's new future attracting well over 350 visitors on the night.
He said: “With the rising importance of cultural tourism we are primarily targeting visitors to the centre and have managed to double our workshops through this demand. We hope to maintain this high level of interest and create more workshops for men such as wood work and metal work.
“These classes also manage to attract a good number of female students. We are actively encouraging participation from the youth and cater more toward the third age or retired people, if you like.
“We do this by operating an aggressive concession policy to attract the first time visitor. The ticket price should not be a barrier to them coming.
“We find once we get people through the door for the first time, maintaining them is the easy part.”
The new Down Arts Centre now boasts a beautiful theatre which hold up to 170 theatre-goers on specially designed raked seating. Upstairs is a new technical room were the lighting and sound are controlled.
There is also a specially designed dressing room, and studio with bar facilities, conference and seminar rooms, kitchen, huge exhibition area, workshop spaces, art rooms and a reception in which a lift has been installed for wheelchair users. For a season programme of events check out Down Arts Centre website.
