New Venture Theatre prepares to reopen its main stage after ten years of closure

Are they expecting the apocalypse?

“If that happens then we will be the ones to reintroduce theatre to the world,” smiles publicity and marketing man Dan Walker.

We’re downstairs in the cafe bar next to the company’s studio space.

The noise of men at work interrupts. It sounds like they are installing the chronicle in the old Victorian church school’s first floor now.

“Not yet. It’ll go in last and be sealed in,” explains Walker.

“We will put photos, reviews and documentation from the past few years of the NVT in the box,” he continues “The plan is we will eventually forget about it. Then whoever is running the theatre in 50 years’ time or whenever the stage next needs renovating will find it and they will have a surprise: they will be able to see what people were doing back in 2013.”

Later, when we head upstairs, workman Jonathan Burt explains there is another capsule under a relatively new wooden floor downstairs.

Donation thanks It’s not as unusual as you might think. But NVT’s treasured casket will contain a list of “angel” names. These are the folks who’ve donated their cash to the renovation fund. The names of the £5 cherubs, £250 fallen angels, £500 archangels and £1,000 archangel Gabriels will be for the collective’s grandchildren to know.

The NVT main stage, a grand room up a winding flight of stairs through the back of the studio space (a theatre-in-the-round which can fit 80 people at a squeeze), was last used for a paid production ten years ago. Since then it has provided an impressive spot to rehearse and a place to store props.

NVT has been making productions in the distinctive white and black stone building in Brighton’s Bedford Place since 1958. When the old church next door was destroyed by a fire, NVT took on the old school’s first floor.

In 1981 the theatre bought the entire building from the Church.

Problems arrived in 2003 when licensing regulations changed and new health and safety requirements were brought in. The main stage was ill-equipped and deemed not fit for purpose.

Plans for the refurbishment were rapidly drawn up but raising £50,000 to pay for it was more difficult.

Ten years on, tomorrow, the new space will have its first performance as part of a ticketed launch night (£10).

Friends and patrons are invited, as are the general public, to hear music and monologues.

“It’s mostly a social event but there will be performances so people can see the stage in use.”

Walker says the revamp will “return the theatre to how it was originally envisaged”.

“We will have a traditional stage arch again, which means we can teach people about how to use that stage.

“One of the founding principles of the NVT is to bring new people into theatre and teach them about acting, directing and production.

“Everything in the past few years has been based on studio work. Now we can start teaching about proscenium arch and using wings.”

There are new seats (72 of them) with more leg room, a better rake, plus an enlarged, dynamic stage with a curtain. The electrics have been completely rewired, there is a new sound and lighting booth behind the seats, access for disabled visitors has been improved and it has had a new paint job.

“It will be a huge stage. We will be able to do more with scenery and flats. We can be more adventurous. And we now have the choice to decide which stage will best suit each play.”

The audience should expect a different experience, too.

“They can almost disappear and forget the rest of the audience is around them. They can be engrossed in the play.”

Everyone mucks in at New Venture Theatre. When The Guide visits, Richard Gamper, a joiner and set designer, is in his work gear helping with the renovations.

Chris Pugh, the technical manager who handily doubles up as a qualified electrician, is there.

They both mention the contribution Tony Showsmith has made.

“This wouldn’t have happened without him. He is a fantastic joiner. He has been ill recently but he still came in. We’ve actually had to send him home on a number of occasions. He’s given so much.”

More is needed, though. The princely sum of £20k, in fact, for the improvements to the lighting rig as well as the ongoing costs of running a building dating back to 1841.

“We will be able to do proper stage shows with the kind of lighting you would see in a concert when it is finished,” explains Walker.

The first full production to use the new main stage will be the The Beginnning Of The End by Sean O’Casey, from Friday, March 21, to Saturday, March 29.

Expect one-off events held on the main stage, such as short story competitions and rehearsed readings, before the debut show. For details visit www.newventure.org.uk.

Forthcoming shows at the New Venture Studio Theatre...

God of Carnage
Friday, November 1, to Saturday, November 9

Yasmina Reza’s play about a playground altercation between 11-year-old boys, which brings together two sets of French parents for a meeting to resolve the matter, starts out with humour but soon descends into a tormented battle.

Starts 7.45pm, Sunday matinee 2.30pm, £7.

Ten-Minute Play Competition
Friday, December 6, to Saturday, December 14

New Venture Theatre and Sussex Playwrights join forces for an evening of ten-minute plays. The audience can vote for their favourite of the eight plays from eight writers with eight directors. A winner will be announced at the final show.

Starts 7.45pm, Sunday matinee 2.30pm, £7. For tickets, visit www.newventuretheatre.ticketsource.co.uk