Burdall’s Yard in Bath has a variety of space and studio options available to clubs and organisations to hire. The venue, on the London Road near Cleveland Bridge, was recently acquired by the Next Stage Theatre Company as a partner venue to The Mission Theatre, to be run as a Community Centre and Arts Hub.
Previously a brewery, then a nightclub and most recently a students’ arts venue, Burdall’s Yard has three atmospheric performance spaces with beautiful stone-vaulted ceilings – Main Stage, Gallery and Studio. The venue also features a large bar/cafe, a full catering kitchen, excellent toilet facilities and a large open courtyard.
The venue is also offering spaces to any local practitioner who would like to run classes there, with interest already received from dance, art, music, yoga, martial arts, pilates and toddler group facilitators. In the evenings, Burdall’s Yard will become a performance venue suitable for hire by theatre, dance and musical companies, stand up comedians, bands, musicians and open mic night events.
“This is the most exciting and significant development for Next Stage since we opened The Mission Theatre 17 years ago in January 2005,” said Ann Ellison, Ann Ellison,Director of Next Stage and Director of The Mission Theatre. “For years we have realised there is a very real need in the community for day time practitioners to have opportunities to run classes and activities in a theatrical-style space. With its superb disabled and buggy access, different sized spaces, self-contained rooms, storage space, changing facilities and a large welcoming bar/cafe hub, Burdall’s Yard has huge potential to become one of Bath’s most versatile and popular arts centres. We hope that the local community will come along with us on the next stage of our journey and support our newest venture.”
Burdall’s Yard Venue Manager, Becca Jefferis, added, “I am so lucky to have joined the Next Stage Team on this exciting venture. I absolutely cannot wait until Burdall’s Yard is full of community activities and really hope that it will sit at the heart of the community in Bath. The positive response we have already received has filled us with confidence and enthusiasm.”
Becca explained that the Main Stage area will hold up to 100 people seated as audience, or up to 20 practitioners plus a teacher for a dance or fitness class, or toddler gym. “We are charging £40 for a two hour slot for day time practitioners to hire this space.
“The other room is The Gallery which will seat up to 50 people, or 10-12 practitioners plus a teacher for a yoga, pilates or fitness class, and costs £30 for a two hour daily hire slot.
“Our daily hire slots for classes Monday-Thursday are: 9.30-11.30, 11.30-1.30, 1.30-3.30, 3.30-5.30, and then a twilight period of 5.30-7pm.”