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Dateline: 15th May, 2009
A New Westminster Theatre Westminster City Council last night approved plans for the rebuilding of the site of the Westminster Thetare which burnt down in 2002. The new build, designed by Loates-Taylor Shannon Architects, will comprise a 314-seater theatre, a cabaret space, a 100-cover restaurant/bar and 35 new flats. The theatre, bar and restaurant will be run by a new company, London Aloft, whose artistic director is Gregory Thompson who, in 2006 won the Best Director award in the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) for his production of Molly Sweeney for the Glasgiow Citizens' Theatre. He was also nominated for the same prodcution in the 2006 TMA Awards. Patron is Steven Berkoff who will direct at least one production a year. Initially the theatre will be a receiving house, showing regional productions from the subsidised sector which would otherwise not be seen in London. A condition of the lease is that if London Aloft defaults or the property developer fails to transfer the venue to the theatre company, the lease will pass to the Theatres Trust. Stephen Mitchelson, chief executive of London Aloft, said, "We are delighted. We look forward to creating some wonderful theatre. It is very exciting. There has not been a new theatre in the West End for years." Westminster's planning chief, Robert Davis, said, "The theatre industry contributes more than £1 billion to London's economy so it is vital we support it at every opportunity. It is testament to its enduring appeal that even in the midst of a recession we can have an exciting, new and in my opinion well-designed addition to Theatreland."
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