So… we have …’ahem’…(drumroll please)… bought our own venue! I think you’ll agree that its pretty impressive, we decided to go for a ‘multi-use arts space’ as our main pitch for the building… which is what THE PICTUREHOUSE will become.

WE ARE PROPOSING A RESTORATION TO THE BILLINGHAM PICTURE HOUSE. WE WANT TO CREATE A MULI-USE ARTS SPACE THAT OFFERS MANY DIFFERENT ARTS EXPERIENCES INCLUDING; DANCE STUDIO, CAFÉ, COMMUNITY CINEMA, BAR, CONFERENCE AND COMMUNITY CENTRE. WE WANT TO MAKE A TOTALLY UNIQUE BUILDING AND RESTORE THIS BUILDING TO ITS FORMER GLORY FOR THE PEOPLE OF BILLINGHAM.

Idyllically located on a busy bus route, this venue will play host to many events and classes with its main function being a busy and vibrant dance studio space. Fracture Theatre will occupy this space on a weekly basis and will run classes in everything from tap dance to ballet, kids street dance, OAP’s ballroom, our PDG (performance & dance group), and many other performance related activities.

The building will also be available for parties, functions, corporate events and any other activities that you may have in mind.

THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE SPACE WILL BE AS A DANCE STUDIO AND WILL BE UTILISED BY FRACTURE THEATRE’S CURRENT DANCE GROUPS, KIDS CLASSES, FITNESS AND ZUMBA CLASSES.

IN THE MAIN HALL, WE WANT TO MAKE THE WEST WALL OF THE MAIN HALL LEVEL (IE REMOVING THE EMBOSSED STUD WALLS) AND LINING THE ROOM WITH MIRRORS. WE WILL ALSO BE REMOVING THE CENTRAL PARTITION WALLS (MIDDLE OF THE MAIN HALL). WE WILL ALSO BE FITTING A STUDIO SOUND SYSTEM AND A BUILDING WIDE TANNOY SYSTEM.

Currently the building sits empty, situated at the end of Mill Lane in Billingham. We plan to change that, we plan to start renovating the building on Wednesday 19th October 2011 and have the majority of the work completed by Tuesday 1st November 2011. Meaning that in total we have just over two weeks to complete the renovation of the former Picture House.

WE ARE PROPOSING A REVIVAL OF THE OLD USE FOR THIS BUILDING AS A CINEMA VENUE. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SCREEN LOCAL FILMS, AND (WITH PERMISSION) OLD FILMS THAT WERE PLAYED UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE OLD PICTURE HOUSE BUILDING.

Watch this space for more information on the picturehouse as it develops. We are planning to keep a blog diary to record our renovation process, while also filming the process to create a documentary on its restoration.  TTFN

It is a huge shame that we didn’t manage to get through to the full project, but a member of the casting team said this:

“In the end they did not select your video.  We are so disappointed and surprised, it was so amazing!!! Thanks again for making the effort and for getting all of the release forms in.  We really do appreciate you taking the time and hope we can find a place for the video somewhere in the future!!”

So we’ve clearly made an impression and they thought we were good, which is the main thing. There are still great things to come from fracture theatre, just wait and see! We have literally hundreds of different projects planned for the next few years and its going to be amazing. Thank you for all your messages of support and we hope to keep providing excellent tuition and performances in the future and beyond.