A 150-seater pop-up theatre is set to be opened inside Leigh Spinners Mill next year.
The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester plans to introduce the arena to the Park Lane site for two weeks from May 11, 2020 where a host of productions will be staged.
The company has developed a pop-up theatre, The Den, after receiving a £1m grant from The Oglesby Charitable Trust.
It will be set up in different locations across Greater Manchester
Chairman of the Leigh Building Preservation Trust, which is running the ongoing restoration project of the site, Peter Rowlinson, said: “We are excited about the pop-up theatre coming to the mill.
“It is recognition of our efforts that such a prestigious, internationally cultural organisation such as the Royal Exchange Theatre is working with us when we are a relatively new and small organisation.
“It fits in with our aspirations to serve arts and culture to the area.”
An external view of the pop-up theatre
Peter says he hopes the project will allow Leigh Spinners Mill to tap into the experience of the theatre to develop a permanent 240-seater facility.
The theatre will work with the mill in the next few years on different projects too.
Ten ambassadors have been selected to promote the arrival of the facility, with Leigh Spinners Mill and Leigh Film Society being two of them. They will be both be teaming up this month for a free film screening at the mill to help to raise awareness of the pop-up theatre.
The film Hobson’s Choice will be shown on Sunday, July 21 at 1pm with members of the current Royal Exchange Theatre going.
Cast members of the Royal Exchange Theatre's Hobson’s Choice
They will then take part in an hour-long discussion.
Leigh Film Society development director Elizabeth Costello said: “We are really excited to be working to bring theatre to the heart of Leigh.”
The society has also organised a viewing of Peterloo at the mill on Friday, August 16 at 7pm.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo massacre in Manchester.
Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for students.
To book tickets to watch Hobson’s Choice contact 0161 8339833.
To order tickets for Peterloo visit leighfilmsociety.com or contact 07969 647466.
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