Curve (theatre)

The Curve Theatre is a theatre in Leicester, England, based in the cultural quarter in Leicester City Centre. Before being named ''Curve'', it was referred to as ''Leicester Performing Arts Centre''."PAC Name Unveiled", BBC Leicester, 29 January 2008
/ref> It is adjacent to the Leicester Athena conference and banqueting centre.

Overview

The Curve Theatre was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly in association with the scenographers ducks scéno and Charcoal Blue, Kahle Acoustics for acoustician studies and engineered by Adams Kara Taylor is based in the centre of what the City Council calls the new "Cultural Quarter" on Rutland Street. It features two auditoria, one with 970 seats (referred to as the Theatre) while a 350-seat auditorium (referred to as the Studio) provides a smaller space with its own power flying system. The Theatre, Studio and their stages can also be opened up to create one large space with a capacity of 1,300. When the 2 18 tonne steel walls separating the stage and the foyer are lifted, the stage is visible from street level. The glass façade encloses an open plan foyer with views onto the café, bars, backstage area, and across the stage.

The theatre was built by a partnership of Leicester City Council, Arts Council England (with funds from The National Lottery), East Midlands Development Agency, Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, with the project part-financed by the European Union (ERDF), in partnership with Leicester Theatre Trust and in association with Phoenix Arts Centre."Leicester Theatre Trust announces inaugural production at Curve", Arts Council England 30 May 2008
/ref> The project, which was undertaken by Lendlease, was blighted by huge cost increases that more than doubled the initial estimates.

The theatre opened on 11 November 2008 with a celebratory opening show called ''Lift Off''.Royal Opening for City's Theatre
, BBC
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