New arts venue to be created in Worcester city centre

Two existing venues in Worcester will be merged in a £29 million city centre redevelopment to create a new performing arts venue. 

The Scala Theatre, which stopped staging productions in 1973, will be one of the buildings and the neighbouring grade II-listed Corn Exchange will be the other. Worcester City Council are currently in negotiations to buy the buildings in order to restore them both and bring back into use as one performance venue. 

The city’s Swan Theatre will relocate from its current home on the Moors to the new venue, which will be able to not only host theatre but music and other events. 

The northern part of the city centre will also be regenerated after Worcester City Council were awarded £17.9 million from the government’s Future High Streets Fund. 

The local authority and other partners will be contributing £11 million towards the redevelopment. 

The project, will take place over the next five years and will also involve upgrading pedestrian and cyclist access, building new homes and creating other leisure facilities within the city. 

Further details on the performing arts venue plans will be revealed in due course.