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Massive crane lifts Theatre restoration
5 October 2005 A huge crane which towers over the Leeds Grand Theatre is the eye-catching emblem of restoration work now under way in earnest at the historic venue. The 152ft installation has recently arrived to help with heavy lifting during the early stages of construction work, the start of which will be officially toasted this week. Foundations had to be sunk 13ft into the ground to support the weight of the 220-tonne crane. It will be hoisting bulky loads of up to eight tonnes with a radius of up to 65ft during the beginning of the £20.6m first phase of the Transformation project. This is aimed at both restoring the much-loved theatre and providing a permanent home there for the award-winning Opera North company. PHOTOCALL You are invited to send reporters and/or photographers or film crew to the official ceremony to mark the start of restoration work at the Grand Theatre. When: 10am, Friday October 7th Where: Premier House, Harrison Street, off New Briggate (opposite side entrance to Grand Theatre) What: There will be a chance to view and take photos of the external building works at close range. Short speeches will be given and Interview opportunities will also be available. Refreshments will be served. NB Please wear sturdy footwear as it is a working building site. You are requested to arrive promptly as all visitors to the site must be issued with protective clothing. To celebrate the start of the scheme representatives of all the major organisations involved will be viewing its initial progress on Friday (Oct 7th). Three very short speeches will then be given by Cllr John Procter, executive member for Leisure for Leeds City Council and chair of the Leeds Cultural Partnership, Warren Smith, general manager of the Grand Theatre and Richard Mantle, Opera North general director. Building contractors Laing O’Rourke have been on site for the past couple of months ensuring that all preparatory work is complete and are now well under way with the complex construction work. They are running a series of smaller building projects simultaneously at the theatre in order to ensure the work on the first phase is completed in around a year. The auditorium will see some of the biggest improvements, with new stalls seating, air-cooling and a reconfigured, more flexible orchestra pit. There will also be new rehearsal rooms for Opera North and a special lorry lift to bring in scenery from the street. For media inquiries please contact: Donna Cox, Leeds City Council press office, 0113- 395 0393 Email: donna.cox@leeds.gov.uk
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