Leicester’s Haymarket Theatre to be transformed

Leicester’s Haymarket Theatre, which has been out of use since 2007, is set to reopen as a training centre for the performing arts, a great coup for the city. It is a historic venue; it was originally closed and replaced by the Curve, however the venue still has 60 years remaining on its long-term lease. It will now become a hub for creative industries, reviving the empty theatre. Creative organisation Yellow Brick Road is in talks with the council to revive the Haymarket as a training centre for young people seeking careers in the performing arts by offering apprenticeships and workspaces in order to create a training ground for young, talented people seeking careers in the arts. The proposal of Yellow Brick Road would support local creative industries in around the city of Leicester, and bring the Haymarket back to life as an important cultural facility for the people. The council has given Yellow Brick Road just three months to draw up a sustainable business plan before the plans can be agreed, however the council is understood to be keen for the proposals to go ahead. A sustainable future for the venue looks very bright, with the theatre set to be transformed to support young people in their artistic dreams. Following the redevelopments an 18-month programme of creative events has been promised, following the city’s failed UK City of Culture bid. Development of the Curve has also been criticised as expensive (there was an overspend), and even disastrous, having seen the council’s contribution go from £4.4 million to £36.8 million. Despite this the Curve has seen much artistic success since its opening, yet some opinions state a buyer should have been secured before the theatre closed and productions were transferred to Curve.