Hull set for new 350-seat amphitheatre ahead of UK City of Culture year

Regeneration developer Wykeland Group, the Freedom Festival Arts Trust and Hull 2017 have announced the creation of a new venue ahead of the city’s year as UK City of Culture.

Hull-based Wykeland is investing £700k to create the new open-air performance space, named Stage @The Dock, in Hull’s Fruit Market cultural quarter.

The 350-seat amphitheatre will be managed and operated by Freedom Festival Arts Trust, the organisation behind Hull’s annual arts and culture event. It will be the only new permanent venue created in the city before Hull’s year as the nation’s capital of culture.

Stage @The Dock will transform the dry dock, a Grade-II listed structure that dates back to 1842, into a significant cultural and artistic asset for Hull.

Redevelopment is due to be completed by this Easter, when organisations can begin booking the venue for performances this summer.

Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Wykeland, said: “We believe passionately that physical, cultural and social regeneration go hand in hand and, together, create the conditions for truly sustainable development.

“As a long-standing sponsor of Freedom Festival, we are delighted to have forged a partnership with the Freedom Festival Arts Trust to ensure Stage @TheDock will be managed by a highly credible pillar of Hull’s cultural community.

“The @TheDock development is transforming a long-neglected site into a thriving hub of business, innovation and creativity. We believe it will be a major asset and opportunity for the city as a whole and make the Fruit Market a place where people love to live, work, visit and spend their leisure time.”

Mikey Martins, chief executive and artistic director, Freedom Festival Arts Trust, added: “The initial plans for the Central Dry Dock were for it to become a high-quality area of public realm. Wykeland saw its further potential, however, and, working with us and with the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 team, it soon became apparent we could go beyond that to create a new artistic space that can have real impact.”

“The venue will be a test bed in the first year or so and, as a blank canvas space, we are looking for arts organisations to really get behind the venue, use the amazing location to their advantage and help us make it a success.

“We will also be exploring opportunities to broaden the programme of events beyond performance to respond to the versatility of the space, and will be working to develop some imaginative ideas on how it can be utilised throughout the year. It is a hugely exciting prospect and we are looking forward to working at a local, regional and national level to realise the venue’s full potential.”

Wykeland has also been announced as a Major Partner of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.