Built in 1921 by a well-known theatrical producer and comedian Harry Russell and privately owned and run, 'The New Arcadia' became the 'Arcadia Picture House' in the early 1930s still run by Mr Russell. In the late 1940s the Council purchased the building and converted it to a theatre and cinema as 'Doncaster Arts Centre' - one of the first such municipal facilities in the country.

Following major refurbishment in the 1970s the Doncaster Civic Theatre was born. Since then this 495 seat, single story proscenium auditorium has been the mainstay of arts activity in Doncaster, attracting over 70,000 visits a year to a varied and lively entertainments programme.

Currently funded and operated by Doncaster Council Directorate of Neighbourhoods, Communities & Childrens' Services, its programme is a mix of professional entertainment and artistic product alongside a thriving local amateur scene and an extremely successful annual Pantomime production.

 

 

Doncaster Council is part funding a new venue in Doncaster, to replace the Civic Theatre.

The New Performance Venue, as it's currently known, will be a multi-space 'tool-box' with a main auditorium, a second flexible theatre-space, dance and drama studios, rehearsal / teaching spaces, a live music bar, cafe/bar and foyer.

Its programming will be extremely diverse from workshops, lectures and training programmes to theatre, music, dance and digital multi-media.

The new £13.5 million venue is a partnership between Doncaster Council, Doncaster College and newSTAGEs - a consortium of Doncaster voluntary arts organisations, and has been allocated £2m through the Arts Council, England's National Lottery Fund, and is planned to open in 2008.


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