New theatre opens to the public

The project is part of Leicester City Council's regeneration scheme

Leicester's £61m Curve theatre opens its doors to the public this weekend.

The new theatre replaces the Haymarket, which finally closed two years ago after ongoing funding problems.

The celebratory opening show, Lift Off, will premier on 11 November and involves the audience being led by the performers around the building.

The official opening performance on 4 December will be Simply Cinderella, a musical directed and choreographed by Adam Cooper commissioned by Curve.

The new complex is part of the city council's regeneration programme.

Doubling costs

People were given free tours on Friday morning of the two theatres and back stage and entertained by stilt walkers, singers and dancers.

The project started in 2005 and at £61m, costs more than double the original estimate of £26m.

There will be two auditoriums, one seating 750 people, the other 350, but they can be combined into one theatre space.

The theatre will be run by independent charitable organisation the Leicester Theatre Trust.