Stage is set at newly refurbished Tamworth Assembly Rooms

Tamworth-Assembly-Rooms

The curtains will open at Tamworth Assembly Rooms this Saturday (January 18) following a major £5million project to extend, refurbish and modernise the 130-year-old theatre.

The cast of Tamworth Pantomime Company and their audience for the 14-show season of Aladdin, will get an exclusive preview of the venue ahead of its official opening in the coming weeks.

There are still Aladdin tickets available for anyone who wants to be among the first to experience the brand new-look auditorium, seating, sound, lighting and bar areas at Tamworth Assembly Rooms. Visit www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk to book now.

Tamworth Assembly Rooms was first proposed in 1887 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria and it was opened in 1889. Since then the theatre has continuously entertained the people of Tamworth and beyond, but significant refurbishment was needed to ensure it could survive for another 130 years.

The £5million refurbishment project has brought the venue into the 21st century, while lovingly enhancing and restoring the historic features which make it such a special building.

This has included a complete change of the internal layout, apart from the main auditorium, to create an impressive, versatile building with more space that can be used for a variety of purposes.

Extensions to the side and rear have created a new multi-use space with a bar, a café, a studio/green room space and extended and improved back stage facilities. The building has also been modernised throughout with upgraded acoustics, heating and lighting, improved disabled access and more toilet facilities.

It will also be the new home to an extended Tamworth Information Centre, which will be relocating from Marmion House.

Cllr Jeremy Oates, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Heritage and Growth, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming audiences back through the doors of Tamworth Assembly Rooms as the beloved theatre embarks on a new chapter in its history.

“The aim of the £5million transformation has been to ensure the Assembly Rooms is fit for 2020’s audiences and will mark a new era of leisure and entertainment for the people of Tamworth and beyond.

“We know it’s been a long time coming, and the project has had some major challenges throughout, but we finally have performers waiting in the wings, ready to take to the stage once again.

“We hope panto cast members and audiences enjoy experiencing the new-look theatre ahead of its official opening and ribbon-cutting in the coming weeks.”

A packed opening season of shows has been lined up; tickets are available now online at www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk, from the Box Office on 01827 709618, or from Tamworth Information Centre.