Theatre Absolute opens the doors to its Shop Front Theatre

Date: 3 December 2009
Region: West Midlands

Coventry based Theatre Absolute will open their 40 seat theatre on 10 December 2009 with a public rehearsed reading of their multi award winning play Car.

In what is thought to be the UK's first professional shop front theatre, a former fish and chip shop in the heart of Coventry is set to take centre stage as internationally recognised Theatre Absolute base themselves at the shop for 18 months - producing a wide range of live theatre performances.

The company have secured support from the local authority Coventry City Council and the Arts Council England 'Art in Empty Spaces' initiative.

Artistic Director and writer Chris O'Connell, whose most recent play "Zero" was produced last year in both the UK and the US, says,

"Inspired by companies such as Chicago's Steppenwolf who were at the forefront of pioneering theatre in disused spaces in the late 1970s, this is a cultural provocation to the city of Coventry and to the theatre world in general. It is about giving independent theatre a physical presence on the street, standing it next to our traditional repertory theatres and embedding the values of a different kind of theatre. This is independent theatre in bricks and mortar, at the heart of a community."

O'Connell continues "It is not a site specific theatre as such, but more about the company stripping away the aesthetic of its previous work, pulling together a theatrical tapestry on the most basic of terms, and issuing a clear statement of intent to those who attend: this kind of work offers no place to hide, all we have are the actors, the words and an imaginative arena, but the experience between audience and performers must aspire to be of the highest quality, epic and personal."

Ros Robins, Director of Arts, Arts Council England, West Midlands said: Arts Council West Midlands is delighted to be able to support Theatre Absolute through the Art in Empty Spaces inititive that the Arts Council is running in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The role that the arts can play in economic regeneration can be seen throughout the country. One of the best means of animating high streets during the downturn is by using the arts to make them attractive and vibrant places that the whole community can enjoy. As one of the region's leading theatre companies we are confident that Theatre Absolute will use this opportunity to connect their work with even more people in a fresh and imaginative way.

Performances: 10 December, 3.00pm, Tickets: £4.00, Box Office: 024 7615 8340

The Shop Front Theatre, Theatre Absolute, 38 City Arcade, Coventry, CV1 3HW.

www.theatreabsolute.co.uk