Swindon Arts Centre Will be Managed Alongside Wyvern Theatre

Following ten years of successful management, during which time attendances have grown year on year and audiences have responded enthusiastically in their thousands to a more varied and exciting programme, Wyvern Theatre Limited (a subsidiary of HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd) has extended its contract with Swindon Borough Council.

The new contract between Wyvern Theatre Limited and Swindon Borough Council will run for a further ten years and will now include the management of Swindon Arts Centre alongside the Wyvern Theatre. One team will now manage the performances and events in both venues and the theatres will share a website, ticket office, technical staff and hospitality staff.

Derek Aldridge, Theatre Director, said: "It is a great honour to extend our partnership with Swindon Borough Council and to continue to provide the town with live entertainment of every kind at these two much-treasured venues. There is a commercial and artistic logic to one management team running both venues and I am confident that both will go from strength to strength."

Cllr David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: "This whole process has been about protecting the future of the Arts Centre and the Wyvern, ensuring that both venues have a sustainable future.

"The Arts Centre is in good hands and I look forward to seeing it continue to flourish in years to come."

Derek Nicholls, Chairman of HQ Theatres & Hospitality said: "We are thrilled at the very enthusiastic response by the people of Swindon and the region to the increasingly wide programme of theatre, music and entertainment which we present at the Wyvern Theatre. We are delighted that we have the opportunity to manage the Arts Centre alongside the Wyvern Theatre, and look forward to being able to develop an increasingly popular and well-supported programme across both venues, appealing to a wide range of tastes and interests, and involving local people in an exciting performing arts programme."

The Wyvern Theatre and Arts Centre will continue to present locally and nationally produced shows and both venues will continue to develop their role as key partners with all of Swindon's performing arts groups. The Old Town Library continues to operate from the Arts Centre and will be run by Swindon Borough Council.

Both auditoria will present a wide range of live entertainment with the aim that there is something for everyone in Swindon to enjoy. Over the forthcoming months the programme includes Lesley Joseph in Hot Flush, Strictly Come Dancing's Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer in Flashmob and Peter Duncan in Birdsong at the Wyvern, and Luke Kempner in The Only Way is Downton, Ann Widdecombe in conversation and comedy boy band The Axis of Awesome at the Arts Centre.

Details of all performances can be found at swindontheatres.co.uk, where you can book tickets 24 hours a day. Tickets can also be booked on 01793 524 481 or in person from the Wyvern Theatre. The Arts Centre will be staffed at performance times, from 60 minutes before the start of the show.

Book tickets today at http://swindontheatres.co.uk or by calling the Ticket Office on 01793 524 481.

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