Performing Arts

A regenerated Folkestone needs a night life. In recent years evening entertainment around the Creative Quarter has been largely confined to slot machine arcades, pubs, bars and nightclubs and the town has lacked a middle scale venue to fill the gap between small local venues and the 1,000+ capacity Leas Cliff Hall.

Thanks to funding from Kent County Council we are building a new £4million performance centre in the heart of the Creative Quarter. The centre will offer flexible staging for music, drama, dance and spoken word events, and will accommodate audiences of between 250 and 500 depending on the configuration of the auditorium.

The centre’s space will be used by touring professional bands and groups, as well as by performing groups in the town. With its striking design the building will offer a new focal point for Tontine Street, one of the main (and most delapidated) routes from the harbour to the rest of the town. It will have its own café/bar and by attracting people to events the centre should have a strong positive influence on the retail and entertainment mix all along the street.

The centre will also accommodate a range of hatchery units for start-up businesses in the creative industries.

The building is being designed by Alison Brooks Architects winners of the 2006 RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize.