Plymouth Divided as New Amphitheatre Takes Shape in City Centre
Plymouth’s new amphitheatre sparks mixed reactions as construction progresses
Plymouth, UK, Amphitheatre, Armada Way, Culture, Construction
Plymouth: The new amphitheatre in the city centre is really starting to take shape. It’s part of a big £30 million project to revamp Armada Way. Morgan Sindall Group kicked things off last autumn, but not everyone in Plymouth is thrilled about it.
Since then, crews have been busy working outside the Copthorne Hotel, moving earth and getting the performance space ready. They’ve even started putting in the seating!
The goal here is to bring more culture and arts into the city. This amphitheatre will be the second performance space created in the city centre, alongside the event area at the Piazza.
Another performance spot has popped up at Old Town Square, where Old Town Street meets New George Street. That area has already seen an 8-meter high blue Christmas tree and some live music, thanks to a £17 million upgrade nearby.
The Plymouth City Centre Company sees this new performance space as part of a vision for a livelier city centre. They’re excited about having a venue for everything from busking to full-on theatrical shows.
Originally, the plan was set at £12.7 million, but the new Labour administration scrapped it last year. In September, the council gave the green light for spending nearly £30 million on the new project.
Some locals are joking about it. One person said, “I’m not sure if the city centre is ready for culture. It looks like a nice spot for a few drinks or a nap.”
On the flip side, another person thinks it’s great to have open spaces, saying it looks low maintenance and inviting.
But not everyone is convinced. Some folks are calling it bleak and sterile, especially with Plymouth being one of the rainiest places in the UK. They’re wondering if it’ll be a good spot for performances.
Others are curious about who will manage the performances and if it’ll be a hit or a flop. There’s a mix of excitement and skepticism about the whole thing.
Some people miss the old car park, while others are just glad to see some progress. A few are worried about the hefty price tag and how it’ll affect local taxes.
In the end, it seems like there’s a lot of chatter about this amphitheatre. What do you think? Will it make Plymouth more attractive for visitors and locals? Share your thoughts!