Unleashed Theatre Company proudly presents
Unleashed @ The Royal Lyceum
In late 2021 Unleashed were presented with the exciting opportunity to purchase a property located in the heart of Torquay, where many of those who need their help the most are. Situated on Abbey Road, Central Cinema is surrounded by some of the most deprived wards in the Southwest of England.
Dating back to the Georgian period, this once glorious destination was originally an assembly room and later a theatre whose visitors included the likes of a young Agatha Christie, who would often tread the boards with her family. Converted into the Odeon in the 1930s this important community focal point houses a rich history, creating memories for residents and visitors for over 190 years with the earliest recorded play ‘The Liar’ being performed in 1827.
When its former owners, Merlin Cinema chose to relocate, there was a real possibility that this property would be lost to re-development or demolition and so Unleashed is proposing to return this beautiful building back to its original use. As well as being a theatre, it is hoped that the building will become a popular creative arts hub, in the very heart of the community, enabling Unleashed to develop new service opportunities, meeting the needs of the vulnerable whilst also helping to improve the well-being of those in Torbay and South Devon.
(Click on images to enlarge)
Over the next 3-5 years, Unleashed will be developing the former cinema in to a multi-purpose cultural and community hub which can facilitate our existing programme whilst allowing for us to:
- Stage Unleashed Productions and those of other local community groups or touring artists.
- Develop an Unleashed Youth Theatre, Youth Choir and Youth Orchestra (specifically catering for those from low-income families).
- Create a multi-use, state of the art studio for dance, drama and choir tuition, rehearsals and other outside user groups.
- Provide educational space to develop music tuition and examination courses for children from low income families, establishing our own performing arts NVQ whilst also supporting basic adult literacy and maths qualifications for those seeking employment.
- Create several part-time and full-time employment positions by the time development is complete in addition to a work experience programme, volunteer opportunities and creative internships.
- Provide rental space for other organisations seeking a base to support the vulnerable.
Unleashed recognises that access to culture and the arts is important to the well-being of a community and is committed to ensuring that every member of society is offered the same opportunities. Therefore, whilst we remain a completely inclusive charity and welcome those from all walks of life, our priority will always be to develop a programme around vulnerable members of our community.