New theatre

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has been awarded £18.3m from round three of the government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF), to build a multi-purpose theatre in the heart of the town. The new venue will replace The Lights with a larger theatre and space for cultural and creative activities.

The new venue will be situated at the entrance of the Chantry Centre, opposite the Guildhall, and feature a brand-new theatre auditorium, as well as modern spaces to host a variety of events and creative classes that currently take place in The Lights, which it will replace. With Andover bus station and the Chantry Centre car park just a short walk away, it will have High Street shops, cafes and restaurants on the doorstep and with the green backdrop of Riverside Park.

The theatre will transform and revitalise the space, introducing an evening economy, offering more cultural activities and events, and supporting businesses in the town.