M6 Theatre Company Studio Theatre Opens Its Doors

Date published: 06/05/2004

The M6 Theatre Company opened its doors on Saturday 1 May with a performance of Andrews Angry Words to a packed audience of old members and M6 supporters, followed by the official opening of the M6 Studio Theatre at Hamer Primary School.

Sue Johnston, M6 founder member and patron: "For M6 to at last have its own studio theatre is just amazing and it expands the possibilities of what this excellent company can go on to do. When I was a member of M6, we just had a van, and we named ourselves M6 Theatre Company because we spent most of out time on the M6! Now the company can bring young people to them, as well as continuing its relentless touring schedule of north west schools"

The 92-seater, fully accessible venue will be a welcome addition to Rochdale's cultural life and will bring many benefits to the community.

As well as being the first purpose built home for the company, the new studio theatre will host a variety of theatre projects for children and young people.

Lorna Fitzsimmons MP: "It’s stunning. Today is a very proud moment for me as a member of parliament and for the whole of Rochdale. Generations of school children, including myself, have enjoyed M6 productions and will continue to do so. We have here in Rochdale one of the best theatre in education companies in the country and this new theatre is a perfect example of the government, the local authority, a school and a professional theatre company coming together to show the importance of the arts for education and for the whole community."

The funding for the project comes from Space for Sport and the Arts (SSA), a £130 million joint Government and Lottery scheme which has supported 300 sport and arts projects at primary schools throughout England. Additional project funding for some of the new theatres technical equipment comes from the Regional Arts Lottery Fund.

Simon Molloy, founder member: "The theatre is simply beautiful. It is amazing that the M6 Theatre Company is still going from strength to strength after 25 years."

At the heart of the new building is a black box studio theatre. This is a special kind of modem theatre, which is highly minimalist in design. Apart from the seating, the performance space is literally a black box. Other examples of this type of theatre are Manchester's Green Room.

Michael Eakin, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, North West said "This place is fantastic. It’s all happened so quickly – but all the same, it is long overdue that M6 has its own permanent base, giving this important theatre company the stability it deserves"

It is fully wheelchair accessible, with ramped access to the foyer and performance area. A lift provides full access to the upstairs and the theatre is fitted with a hearing loop.

Jane Milne, General Manager said: "The new studio theatre is a fantastic asset for the M6 Theatre Company, for Hamer County Primary School and for Rochdale. "We believe it is the only purpose built theatre space in the North West with a programme of theatre events for children and young people aged from three to 18. The new space will allow us to present a range of opportunities for children and young people to take part in theatre-based activities, whether as audience members or as active participants of youth theatre projects."