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Dateline: 11th October, 2006

Arts Reopens

West End venue The Arts in Great Newport Street is to re-open as an international venue after a major refurbishment.

The historic 340-seat theatre, which was the first London home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and which marks its 75th anniversary in 2007, has been renovated and given a new lease of life. It will host an eclectic mix of theatre, comedy, music and visual art shows.

The first season at The Arts will feature Fringe First-winning and acclaimed theatre productions transfering from the Edinburgh festival, including 2Graves, The Pool and My Polish Roots; top comedians including Reginald D Hunter, Mark Steel, Mark Thomas and Will Smith; music from Lloyd Cole, Neil Obrien (Clannad), Live Nation, Nick Harper, Alvin Stardust and Rain Pryor (daughter of Richard Pryor); an all-star MS Gala; late night sauce from cult favourites Topping & Butch; and children's show Comedy Academy For Kids School. The Arts will also host live recordings of the BBC Radio 2 comedy series Out To Lunch, hosted by award-winning comedians Russell Howard and Rob Deering.

And in a groundbreaking deal with ticket agency Ticketmaster, commision on tickets is the lowest in the West End.

Among the new features at the new-look Arts:

• Nine purpose-built sound-proofed recording studios and rehearsal rooms created in the upper floors of the building above the theatre.
• The derelict top floor has been refurbished to create The Pigeon Loft - a rehearsal space big enough for full-sized West End companies. Trevor Nunn's new musical version of Porgy & Bess and Tom Stoppard's Rock & Roll have already rehearsed there.
• On the first floor, the former Arts Club Bar will be renamed and open as a late night bar with free membership to actors and people in the entertainment business, while acting as a green room for the sound studios.
• The basement bar is being converted into a comedy club at weekends and during the week will host Tea at the Arts afternoon events.

The building will host a rolling programme of international art exhibitions and installations managed by the Olympian Arts Trust. The inaugural exhibition is Lenticular Portraits by Matthew Andrews.

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©Peter Lathan 2006