Phoenix Arts Centre

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Phoenix Theatre (1963 - 1987) Phoenix Arts Centre (1988 - 2008,09,10,?)

Nickname(s)	PAC
Location	Leicester, England
Type	Theatre/Cinema/Arts
Opened	1963
Renovated	1988
Expanded	1988
Closed	2008-9-10-?
Demolished	2008-9-10-?
Former name(s)	Phoenix Theatre (1963 - 1987)
Capacity	266
Website	www.phoenix.org.uk

The Phoenix Arts Centre is a theatre in the city centre of Leicester, England. The centre hosts live shows and films of the arthouse and world cinema genres.

[edit] History

In the 1963 Leicester City Council (LCC) decided there was a gap in cultural provisions. As a solution they built the Phoenix Theatre, a 262-seat theatre in the heart of Leicester, responsible for showing live performances. This was intended to be a temporary solution until a more permanent Theatre could be established.

In 1973 a permanent theatre called the Haymarket Theatre (Leicester) was built. Fortunately there was such support for the Phoenix Theatre that it remained functional and worked alongside the Haymarket until 1987. At this time financial issues forced LCC to reconsider the position of the Phoenix Theatre and the decision for closure was taken.

However, in 1988, with support from Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University) and LCC, the theatre was rejuvenated and re-named ‘Phoenix Arts Centre’ (P.A.C). P.A.C changed roles and stopped being a producing theatre, becoming a venue for contemporary art, film and live performances.