Theatre Announces Winning Name With Roots To The Past

Hedge End, Eastleigh is soon to be home to a new state-of-the-art theatre. Representing several million pounds of investment into the arts, the new theatre due to launch in April 2011 is now proud to announce its name – The Berry Theatre.

 

The name was suggested by local resident Mrs Sheila Perry after it was opened to the public to submit suitable names earlier this year.  Inspired by Hedge End’s heritage as a strawberry growing area, the name firmly roots the theatre into the area’s fruit growing past and into its local community.

 

Hedge End resident Mrs Perry moved to the town 6 years ago, having grown up nearby and finds it fascinating that the area where she now lives was once strawberry fields.

 

Mrs Perry says “As someone who enjoys theatre events I was delighted to hear about this fantastic new facility and to have the opportunity of choosing a relevant name. I felt it should reflect on local history. I am thrilled that my suggestion has been selected and look forward to the opening.”

 

As a thank you, Mrs Perry will be presented with a personalised engraved plaque on a seat in the theatre’s auditorium and a year’s membership to The Berry Theatre’s Friends scheme which includes season information and priority booking.

 

The theatre will bring visionary facilities for the performing-arts to the Borough of Eastleigh, adding to the local economy and the plethora of existing arts facilities within the Borough, including The Point, one of the south’s leading venues for contemporary dance and the renowned Thornden Hall, noted as a centre for musical excellence and its role in nurturing young talent.

 

Leader of the Council, Councillor Keith House, says:

 

“Our new professional theatre will create a vibrant and exciting performance space for local, national and international names and bring quality drama, professional children’s theatre, film, comedy and music to Hedge End.  Eastleigh is continuing to invest in the arts through these difficult financial times.  We understand just how important culture is to the well-being of all of our community and we are proud to launch The Berry Theatre on its site at Wildern in the heart of Hedge End.”

 

 An exciting element of the theatre’s work will be to develop the skills of young people interested in technical theatre and to provide dedicated career advice. A further raft of educational projects will be offered, including new writing which will be championed through The Berry Theatre’s links with local secondary schools – inspiring writers of the next generation through taster sessions, writing programmes and master-classes in the craft of playwriting.

 

The Berry Theatre is also home to a resident Youth Theatre Company, open to young people aged between eight and sixteen. The Company gives members the invaluable chance to work with a professional creative team – helping to instil them with confidence and to develop their full potential. Through new production company Hampshire Young Actors Company The Berry Theatre will also provide opportunities for eighteen to twenty-four year olds wishing to follow a professional career in theatre.

 

To be added to the theatre’s mailing list, please email theberrytheatre@eastleigh.gov.uk and to follow the progress of The Berry Theatre as the building work finishes its journey, visit our Facebook page – The Berry Theatre at www.facebook.com