A brand new £5 million arts centre has been unveiled in Twickenham.

The Exchange, kitted with state of the art facilities, offers up a 300-seat theatre, six studio rooms, large conservatory area and café-bar.

Located within the residential Brewery Wharf development, just opposite Twickenham station, the project is a result of a new partnership between Richmond Council, the site owners, and St Mary’s University who will operate the venue.

The six studios and the theatre are available for hire by community groups, organisations, businesses and individuals for everything from classes, courses and meetings to conferences and parties.

Young people’s performing arts classes, after-school clubs and adult well-being classes are amongst the activities in the planning stage.

Included in the launch season is a Q & A with artist Jeremy Dellar, poetry from multi-award winner Luke, talks by author, broadcaster and journalist Gary Younge and Germaine Greer.

Music includes radical folk musician Nancy Kerr and singer songwriter Chris Wood.

The centre is hosting talks by historian David Starkey and physicist Helen Czerski, as well as a solo performance by actor Ian Hughes, all as part of the Richmond Literature Festival.

There are modern film screening facilities with Twickenham Cinema Club confirmed as an early user and regular ‘rep’ showings planned for the near future.

The newly appointed creative director Stuart Hobday said: “We aim to be a valuable cultural addition to the area.

“It’s important that local people see The Exchange as their space.

“As well as a rich programme of music, theatre, talks and family shows we are providing new spaces for people in the borough.

“I’m also personally thrilled to be back in the area.

“I studied at St Mary’s in the 1980’s and went on to work at The Millennium Dome and London’s Transport Museum.

“More recently I was director of Norwich Arts Centre and founded Norwich Science Festival so I’m looking forward to exploring the links between science and the arts to create our own unique place in the London’s arts scene.”

Council leader Paul Hodgins said the partnership “will bring immeasurable benefit to both the people of Richmond and Twickenham and students at the university”.

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