New Aylesbury Theatre on time and within budget

Major milestone for Aylesbury’s new theatre

The construction of the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre reached another milestone on Thursday (26 March) as the structural wooden beams which support the roof and glazed exterior arrived on site.
Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of Aylesbury Vale District Council, and Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, were on site to welcome the delivery and see the first beams being offloaded.
Made from Larch wood sourced from a sustainable forest in Finland, the beams have been commissioned by main contractor Willmott Dixon specifically for the theatre project.
There are 106 beams in total, ranging in height from seven to 12 metres, which the architect designed to represent the Chiltern Hills and surrounding woodland areas. The beams will be installed over the next few weeks with the last beam expected to be in place in June.
Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “It is great to see the progress being made with the new theatre and the installation of the structural beams will be another giant step towards our goal of creating a first class venue for the Vale. The Aylesbury Waterside Theatre will have a huge cultural significance for the district and I’m very much looking forward to the completion of the building in 2010.”
Mark Chamberlain, Project Director for Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a pivotal stage in the project development. People have seen the concrete frame rise above the hoardings and now they will begin to see the theatre evolve and take shape. The arrival of the beams for us signifies the start of the next stage and we are really looking forward to translating all the plans and artistic impressions
into reality.”
Around 300,000 people from across Aylesbury Vale and beyond are expected to visit the new theatre each year to enjoy a dynamic and diverse programme of live performances. The programme will be an exciting mix of West End shows, comedy, dance, concerts, gigs, pantomime, as well as international opera and ballet.
The concept for the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre was developed by AVDC and internationally-renowned theatre designers, RHWL Arts Team. The venue will have a 1,200-seat auditorium that converts into a 1,800-capacity hall for standing events, and a 225-seat suite for smaller events including dance, drama, meetings and conferences.
Building work started in 2007 and is on course to be completed in 2010. The venue will be managed by the Ambassador Theatre Group, who run the very successful Milton Keynes Theatre.
The theatre is part of AVDC’s Waterside scheme – an ambitious project to redevelop Aylesbury town centre, which will also create a new shopping area in Exchange Street, including a department and food store, as well as housing developments alongside the canal and at Circus Field.