Leicester's Curve to reopen for live performance as in-the-round theatre

Leicester’s Curve is to reopen for live theatre with a newly-designed in-the-round auditorium and performances from Danielle Fiamanya, T’Shan Williams, Ria Jones and Danny Mac.

The autumn season, which launches with a live-streamed event on November 12, will include concert productions of Sunset Boulevard and The Color Purple.

By merging its two performance spaces, the Curve will reopen as a 533-seat socially-distanced in-the-round auditorium. The Curve previously had a capacity of 967 for its main space and 282 for its studio space.

The reconfigured auditorium will feature a triple-revolve stage, which has been donated by Cameron Mackintosh.

From November 23 to December 5, The Color Purple will return to Curve as a concert production starring Williams and The Stage Debut Award-winner Fiamanya.

The musical will be staged by the original production team, including director Tinuke Craig, musical director Alex Parker and choreographer Mark Smith.

Concert performances of Sunset Boulevard, directed by Nikolai Foster and starring Jones and Mac, will run from December 14 to January 3, 2021.

The performances will also feature a 16-piece orchestra.

From January 25 to February 6, Curve will revive its 2018 production of Memoirs Of An Asian Football Casual, directed by Foster.

Full casting for all three productions is to be announced.

Curve will also host a family and community day on November 14, which will feature low cost and free workshops, performances and activities run by Midlands-based artists and theatre companies.

In the coming months, the venue will also announce a group of creatives and theatre makers who will take up residency at the Curve in the New Year.

Chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said: "Covid continues to have a devastating impact on our industry and we are indebted to Arts Council England and DCMS for the Culture Recovery Fund.

"Although we have a long road to recovery ahead of us, we are delighted to announce a new programme of work which will reopen our theatre after seven long months of closure.

"The team at Curve have worked tirelessly on plans to enable us to safely reopen our theatre with social distancing."

Stafford and Foster added: "Curve’s unique architecture has always demanded a bold response in whatever we do, and we are proud to present these performances in our newly configured, socially-distanced, in-the-round theatre which merges our studio and theatre into one performance space."

Covid-19 safety measures which have been introduced at the theatre include a one-way system throughout the building, additional cleaning and temperature checks on arrival.