Stage is set for Pavilion to return to seafront action
THESE are first pictures from inside the newest theatre to be built in Merseyside, just weeks before it is due to be handed back to Wirral Council.
The Floral Pavilion closed in March, 2007, with a show by Merseyside favourite Ken Dodd and is to be re-opened by him in December.
Since then it has been demolished and rebuilt into an extraordinary building in the seaside resort, with a brand new auditorium along with a conference area.
More than nine decades after it was opened as a bandstand on the Wirral seafront, it had become tired and badly in need of a complete revamp, and is the first stage of the £60m Neptune scheme to revitalise New Brighton.
Liverpool-based architect Ken Martin, who has designed the new building with assistant John Nozedar, promised that its auditorium would retain its special mood.
As before, it has been created all on one level, but with a higher rake for better sight lines. Last night, manager Paul Holliday could not contain his enthusiasm – and some nervousness – at the prospect of the theatre being returned to his hands.
He said: “Standing in the centre of the auditorium and looking about it really is quite awesome.
“It’s going to be tremendous, and definitely a wonderful addition to the artistic scene in Wirral and Merseyside.”
Since the building was closed and demolition began, later in 2007, Mr Holliday has been working behind the scenes in preparation for its grand re-opening, and preparing for the following season.
In between, Ken Dodd returned for the topping-out ceremony of the building – when builders celebrate reaching its highest point – and was treated to a tour of what at that stage was little more than a building site.
Following the official opening by Ken Dodd – a long- time favourite at the Floral, who has been performing at the theatre since beginning his career as a semi-professional in the 1950s – a wide selection of acts have been lined up.
These range from Billy Ocean, Jane McDonald, Joe Longthorne and Elkie Brooks to The Rat Pack – Vegas Spectacular, The Commitments, comedian Dave Spikey and the Vienna Festival Ballet, with more to come.
Mr Holliday said he was “very excited” at the line-up so far and that he was in negotiations for even more shows, along with retaining the theatre’s commit- ment to amateur perfor mances and local groups.
