A first glimpse was given today of a new £38m theatre which its backers said would regenerate the area and draw thousands of people to Prescot.
The finishing touches are now being made to the Shakespeare North Playhouse ahead of its opening to the public with a weekend of free festivities from July 15 to 17. The new venue, which was substantially built during the pandemic, features the only 17th-century style, timber-built "Cockpit" theatre outside London, able to seat a maximum of 450 spectators.
Performances will take place in candlelight to give an authentic Shakespearean experience for audiences. Those behind the scheme are confident they can attract enough people to the new theatre to make it viable. This includes offering tickets for as little as £3 for people living locally in Prescot.
