The Lighthouse (Poole)

Infobox_Company
company_name = The Lighthouse Arts Centre
company_
company_type = Arts centre, Theatre and Cinema
company_slogan = Poole's Centre for the Arts
foundation = Poole in 1979
location = Poole
homepage = http://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/

The Lighthouse is an arts centre in Poole, Dorset, England. According to the Arts council of England it is the largest arts centre in the United Kingdom outside London. [http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/aboutus/project_detail.php?sid=7&id=696&page=5 The Lighthouse, About us] , The Arts Council of England, accessed 10-12-07]

It has a 669 seat theatre, a 1,500 seat concert hall, a 150 seat studio, a 105 seat cinema, an Image Lab/media suite, a large gallery for photography and digital art, a restaurant and three function rooms. The concert hall is home to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. [ [http://www.bsolive.com/contact Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra] , accessed 10-12-07] [http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/aboutus/project_detail.php?sid=7&id=696&page=5 The Lighthouse, About us] , The Arts Council of England, accessed 10-12-07]

History, Development and Funding

The Towngate theatre and Poole Arts Centre opened in 1979 to serve the South East Dorset conurbation. The venue closed in May 2002 for an £8.5 million radical refurbishment and overhaul. This was paid for by Arts Council Lottery Awards, the Borough of Poole and through private donations. It reopened as "Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts" in October 2002. The refurbishment added new extensive facilities including a modern cinema, expanded concert hall and photography labs. Other additions included expanded customer facilities and a new restaurant.

The Lighthouse receives additional funding from the Arts Council England. In 2005/06 £230,000, in 2006/07 they received £330,000 in 2007/08 they will receive a total of £339,080. [http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/aboutus/project_detail.php?sid=7&id=696&page=5 The Lighthouse, About us] , The Arts Council of England, accessed 10-12-07] The Lighthouse is currently owned by the Poole Arts Trust Ltd.

Programming and types of shows

Lighthouse provides a wide ranging programme, including:

Theatre

*Mid-scale musical tours (such as "Fame" and "Blood Brothers")
*Opera (annually from English Touring Opera)
*Dance (both contemporary and classical)
*Ballet
*Plays (ranging from classics such as "Romeo and Juliet", "An Inspector Calls" to more modern day 'kitchen sink dramas')
*Pantomime (Cinderella for 2006/7 starring Bobby Crush, Peter Duncan & Brian Cant)

Concert Hall

*Weekly performances on Wednesday nights from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
*World music
*Rock gigs (including Oasis, Rufus Wainwright, Kings of Leon, McFly, Doves, Fun Loving Criminals)
*Jazz

tudio

*Small scale children's theatre
*Small scale adult theatre

Cinema

Eclectic mix of world cinema, and recent releases normally presented 4–8 weeks after general release.

Location

Lighthouse is situated just outside the main shopping centre / high street in Poole. However it is only a short walk from the centre of town.

The venue is easily accessible by public transport (10 minute walk from Poole railway station (for trains to London Waterloo, Southampton, Winchester and Weymouth, amongst others) and is opposite Poole bus station for local services across the town and into Bournemouth, Christchurch, Salisbury and Swanage) and also by the road network, within reasonable travel time from such towns as Dorchester, Weymouth, Yeovil, Salisbury, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Lymington, Southampton and Blandford.

There is adequate car parking for visitors to the Lighthouse Theatre in the Dolphin Centre multi-storey which is open 24-7.

References

External links

* [http://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/ Official Lighthouse website]