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A NEW THEATRE FOR LEEDS

Thanks to an investment of £1.1m of ERDF funding a new theatre has recently opened in the heart of Leeds city-centre. With a prestigious location on Millennium Square, The Carriageworks opened to the public on 11 November 2005, providing a number of full and part-time jobs and offering a city-centre performance space for amateur and professional performing groups. As well as being an exciting venue for Leeds festivals and events, The Carriageworks will also provide state-of-the-art conferencing facilities, a bar and café.

The Carriageworks presents a dynamic, diverse programme of both professional and community performances within a range of art forms. Aiming to fill an existing gap in theatre provision in Leeds, the new theatre will serve as a key platform for the development of newly established Leeds-based theatre companies, while also attracting small scale professional touring companies into the City.  Serving as both a resource and a platform for local youth and community groups, The Carriageworks will be a new home for the Civic Arts Guild,
a local group of amateur performing societies.

With modern, state of the art facilities, this purpose-built facility will consist of a main auditorium with a capacity of up to 350 seats, and a smaller studio theatre with approximately 80 seats. In addition, the theatre will offer rehearsal, workshop and conference facilities.

The Electric Press (Grade II listed) was built in 1894 and was used by Chorley and Pickersgill as a printing works. Stansfield Chambers (Grade II listed) were built in 1848 and originally housed the West Riding Carriage Manufactory. Portland Chambers were built towards the end of the last century.   The newly opened ‘Electric Press’ development sees this prominent building refurbished and brought back into use. 

The new development features a vibrant mix of commercial and arts facilities. At ground floor level, a range of café’s and bars will are grouped in the historic courtyard with The Carriageworks overlooking the courtyard from the first floor.

The Carriageworks has replaced the Leeds Civic Theatre currently housed within the Leeds Institute building. Major work is currently underway to convert the Institute into the new city museum for Leeds.