Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has unveiled the plans for the town’s spectacular new theatre and performance venue, which will be located in the heart of the town, providing capacity for up to 1000 people. The council has been working closely with specialist architects Burrell Foley Fischer (BFF), and a host of technical experts, to develop a design that retains the spirit of The Lights whilst providing a range of multipurpose modern facilities.
The need for a new theatre was first identified during the development of the Andover Masterplan, where more than 4,100 people contributed their thoughts about the future changes they wanted to see in the town. The results from this widespread public engagement showed that almost 80% of Andover residents highlighted a requirement for a new theatre in the town centre.
Since then, the council has been working to get this project in motion and deliver on the community’s aspirations. Having been awarded £18.3m from the government to put towards the project, TVBC is now forging ahead to create a state-of the-art theatre, which will become the new home to The Lights.
The freshly unveiled design proposals present an inspiring new venue which will offer a host of contemporary facilities. Set across three floors, it will house a multitude of spaces for the community to enjoy.
The main auditorium will provide 420 seats, an increase from the 249 available at the current theatre. Whilst larger in size and with bigger seats and more leg room in each row, the architects have designed the auditorium in a curved shape to create an intimate space for both audience members and performers.
The new venue will also feature a second event space which can be used flexibly to accommodate 120 seated to 350 standing, with retractable seating and a pop-up stage for music and comedy gigs and room for sit-down banquets.
Local creative arts organisations will benefit from professional dance studios, situated on the first floor, featuring sprung floors and windows looking out across the High Street and Riverside Park. The third floor will house meeting rooms which can be hired out to the public. There will be two cafe/bars at either end of the building and lovely terraced spaces for visitors to make use of in the warmer months.
Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phi North said:
“Ever since I became leader of Test Valley, I’ve made town centre regeneration our number one priority; during that time we’ve bought the Chantry Centre, carried out significant public engagement culminating in the masterplan, delivered the early phases, lobbied for and won the money from central government and we’re now on the cusp of delivering something totally transformational for the town. We only get one shot at this and it’s my view we didn’t want to settle for an identikit theatre, we wanted to create a new public building that local people can be proud of for generations to come. I think the architects have done a fabulous job delivering on that aspiration by using high quality materials and ensuring the specification fits the business plan.”
“With increased capacity we have a real opportunity to bring so many more people into the town and support the local economy. I encourage everyone to have a look at the designs online or pop into town to meet with the project team and find out more. These are very exciting times ahead and I can’t wait to see the designs come to life.”
One of the striking differences between the new venue and The Lights will be the ability to run shows and events in both the auditorium and second event space simultaneously, as well as operating classes and meetings in other locations around the building. Quality sound proofing and an enhanced design will mean the venue can run at full occupancy.
Paul Marsh, of Andover Musical Theatre Company (AMTC) said:
"The plans for the new theatre are very ambitious. The proposed design will remove some of the limitations of the current theatre and provide opportunities to expand AMTC's productions, offering both our performers and audience a new level of excitement. The new theatre really gives us a chance to significantly improve the town and I look forward to the council working with the arts community in Andover on this venture."
At full capacity the venue will accommodate just under 1000 people, which will see an incredible uplift in footfall in the town centre. This in turn will help to enhance the local economy, supporting food and drink establishments in the town and enticing new businesses to come into Andover to meet demand.
In addition to the internal facilities the architects have put a lot of thought into the exterior of the building, capturing the essence of Andover, its history and natural environment throughout the design and materials. Taking inspiration from two core public buildings in the town, St Mary’s Church and the Guildhall, as well as considering the inner happenings of the theatre, in terms of movement, patterns and rhythm, the façade will feature carefully structured curved arches at the either end. The building will be made from light coloured stone, to reflect the local chalk stream, with pale brick and elements of natural flint and bronze.
There will be two separate entrances, the first coming straight off of the High Street which will lead onto a newly created Theatre Square. The proposals detail moving the entrance of the Chantry Centre back, to create an open and welcoming space in front of the cultural venue.
The second entrance will be located opposite Town Mills Riverside Park, where the architects plan to seamlessly connect the theatre with the leafy green backdrop behind. This area will come alive with greenery, to compliment the chalk stream-friendly plants already established in the park.
Kit Malthouse MP said:
“We set ourselves the task of creating a building that would house a first-class theatre for the town but also be a new landmark building for Andover, setting the standard for the rest of the town centre redevelopment. BFF have achieved both those things in spades, and they deserve our thanks and congratulations. The designs look great. Demolition should start soon. Construction swiftly after that. First curtain up in 2027! Bravo!”
Over the past few weeks the architects have met with many key groups to review the plans and hear their thoughts about how they want to use the new space. This has included regular hirers, staff operating the technical aspects of the theatre and organisations representing disability groups.
Having had the opportunity to talk in detail about the current venue and the constraints of the building, BFF have ensured the new theatre will be much more accessible for visitors with lifts, wider rows, more wheelchair spaces on multiple levels and walkways with a gentle incline in the main auditorium.
The theatre will also be located directly next to the multistorey car park which will provide disabled parking bays. There will be a drop-off point and taxi ranks available directly outside the theatre next to Riverside Park.
Helen Grassly, Director of BFF said:
“It has been a real pleasure developing the design for the new theatre with the teams at The Lights and TVBC. We have been tasked with delivering something technically excellent with high quality facilities for both professional and community users, while keeping the warm welcome and intimacy of the existing Lights. Our new building makes the most of the town centre site, with visible activity on the three public facades and a landscape design linking the High Street and the river Anton.”
A planning application to demolish the former Poundstretcher unit, where the theatre will be located, was approved last month and TVBC is currently tendering for a contractor to start demolition in late spring. The council will submit an application to build the new theatre in May, with a view to beginning construction in 2026. Audiences can then look forward to the new venue openings its doors in 2027.
The plans are now available to view at www.thinkandovertowncentre.co.uk and be on display in the Lights arena and former O2 unit inside the Chantry Centre.