We're open!

We had a fantastic opening night of our new theatre last night, when we hosted a concert given on behalf of Life for a Life Memorial Forests, one of our partner charities, to help launch a campaign to install in Manchester a bronze statue of Chopin, presented by the Republic of Poland as a gesture of friendship to a city known for its hospitality.

It was great to see the new theatre work so well - there is plenty of hospitality space in surrounding studios for the audience at the interval, and the new seats really are comfortable.  The new stage accommodated just a wonderful pianist and soprano in the first half, but after the interval we loaded it with members of two military bands and a corps of drummers.  The acoustics were excellent, and a good time was had by all.

I've been asked by many people when 'the opening' of the new facilities is to take place.  The truth is that we are having a number of openings.  Next Tuesday, a panel of distinguished Old Mancs will conduct a Question Time event with a capacity audience comprising those of the hundreds of our donors who have been able to accept our invitation to attend to accept our thanks for their help.

On 27 November we have a performance by Robert Powell, Liza Goddard and friends which will be our first visiting professional production.  Details at http://www.mgs.org/.  Our first big student show will take place next year, when we hope that Sir Nicholas Hytner, Director of the National Theatre and Chairman of the campaign which raised the funds for the drama centre, will be able to attend.  Happy days!