Creative space proposed for Quayside

The Bike Shed Theatre has announced it intends to establish a new creative venue in Exeter’s historic Quayside.

The proposal is for the Maclaines Warehouse, a Grade II listed building adjacent to Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre, to be transformed into a space which could attract new productions from across the globe, offer unrivalled artist development and create a vibrant social destination for food, drink and entertainment.

Formerly the Exeter Maritime Museum, the building is preserved by Exeter Canal and Quay Trust which granted The Bike Shed Theatre nine months and £15,000 to undertake a feasibility study.

The Trust has now granted a further two years exclusivity to The Bike Shed Theatre to carry out public consultation and to fundraise.

Since first opening the doors to its Fore Street home in 2010, The Bike Shed Theatre has presented shows from some of the country’s most exciting emerging companies. Championing new work, the theatre has gained national acclaim, winning a Peter Brook Empty Space award in 2011 and the UK Theatre's Most Welcoming Theatre award in 2013.

It has also built a reputation for creating exquisite cocktails and purveying fine food and drink from local suppliers.

The Bike Shed Theatre’s intention is to closely connect the making and presenting of art, and this underpins the proposal for the new building.

In addition to a 250-seat flexible theatre, there are plans for an indoor market enabling local makers to create and sell artisan goods, a smaller performance or exhibition area, office space for the city’s creative companies and a studio space for artists in residence to develop and rehearse their work. A bright cafe and bar opening onto the square will serve fresh, locally sourced food, welcoming everyone into a busy creative hive.

The multi award-winning architects Haworth Tompkins - whose most recent project was with The National Theatre - have appraised the potential of the building and their designs work to enhance the warehouses’ maritime heritage.

Restoring key features of the industrial architecture, the building will celebrate the unique history of the canal basin setting.

Exeter City Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, Rosie Denham, said: "Building a creative space in Exeter’s Quayside could be hugely beneficial to other businesses in the area and would enable a greater connection between the city centre and the Quay."

Rob Bosworth, Assistant Principle at Exeter College, added: "Such an exciting and vibrant development would be very appealing to us and would add real value to the Performing Arts provision, which is a growth area of the college.”

Ben Bradshaw, MP for Exeter and former Secretary of State for Culture, outlined how the building would increase Exeter’s national profile: “Who’d have thought, when I stepped into the quirky Bike Shed Theatre in its opening week five years ago, that it would now be forging ahead with such big ambitions for the cultural identity of the city?

"A higher capacity theatre combined with a world-class artist development offer with international partnerships would position Exeter as one of the country’s most important cultural destinations.”

Having worked with architects and business experts to assess the feasibility of the project, The Bike Shed is now consulting the local community.

David Lockwood, Co-founder and Director of The Bike Shed Theatre said: “What’s more important than anything else, is to ensure our local community want this to go ahead.

"We want to hear people’s thoughts about how we can best realise the potential of this wonderful building, and how we can make sure it serves the whole community, rather than just the arty crowd.”

All ideas and suggestions are welcome and can be shared with The Bike Shed Theatre’s Director personally on davidlockwood@bikeshedtheatre.co.uk.

For more information on the project, visit www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk.