New theatre opens after seven-year wait

A trustee of a new theatre, which is set to hold its opening night after a seven-year wait, has said he “never thought this day would come”.

The Crown Wharf Theatre in Stone, Staffordshire, opens its doors and will stage its first ever performance on Friday evening.

The venue has been seven years in the works, having been hit by delays caused by the pandemic, cost of living crisis and planning issues.

Speaking about what it meant for the team behind the theatre, trustee Leo Capernaros told BBC Radio Stoke: “The town deserves a theatre."

He added :"It deserves a space for people to come together and have a good time.”

The theatre will start its life by staging an adaptation of Shakespeare in Love – a story about the love of theatre and the struggles behind it.

Mr Capernaros said the play was chosen as it echoed the “trials and tribulations” the Crown Wharf Theatre had faced over the years.

He will also be playing a part in the show and said he would try to “keep it together”.

“We’ve been kicking around this building for years carrying plasterboard, painting walls, wiring in things, cleaning floors and all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff,” he said.

“All of a sudden it’s a theatre and there will be an audience at a show. It will be a very different experience so I’m going to try and enjoy myself.”

The land the theatre was built on was gifted by neighbouring brewery Joule’s and the community raised about £800,000 for the project.

Mr Capernaros said tickets for the first show had been flying out the box office, with about 99% of them sold as of Thursday.

Shakespeare in Love will be performed at the Crown Wharf Theatre until 16 November.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.