Our Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, took part in a groundbreaking ceremony in the Swan Gardens on Friday 21 May as we prepare for the creation of our new Garden Theatre.

The temporary outdoor performance space will be home to The Comedy of Errors and is designed to allow audiences back to see our productions as confidently and safely as possible, and in line with the government roadmap.

Making improvements

We are taking the opportunity to make some improvements to the area. We will replace the path using a polyblended resin, creating a new smooth and straight surface which will still allow growing tree roots to move.

We are also increasing the capacity for flood water in the area, strengthening the town's flood defences. All of the trees along the river will be protected during the works and we will restore the Swan Theatre Gardens once the theatre is taken down in October.

Changes to access

During the construction of the theatre, we need to close the Riverside Walkway to keep everybody safe. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. We will only close the Walkway when it is essential and make sure we re-open it as quickly as possible.

If the Walkway is closed, please use Waterside and the public footpath before rejoining the Riverside Walkway.

Thank you for your patience as we create our new theatre, and we look forward to welcoming you to the space during the summer.