West End Centre, Aldershot

West End Centre
The West End Centre in Aldershot
Map
Alternative namesThe Westy
General information
TypeArts Centre
Architectural styleVictorian
Address48 Queens Road
Town or cityAldershot
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates51°14′53″N 0°46′11″W / 51.24796°N 0.76965°W / 51.24796; -0.76965
Opened1975 (1975)
Other information
Seating typeraked
Seating capacity106
Website
hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/west-end-centre

The West End Centre is an entertainment venue and arts centre[1] located on Queens Road in Aldershot. The centre hosts classes, workshops, art exhibitions, music performances (of heavy metal, blues, folk and punk music), stand-up comedy, and small-scale and intimate theatre.[2][3]

Background

The Auditorium

Opening in 1975 in the former West End Junior School once attended by comedian Arthur English, the West End Centre (or the 'Westy') is described as "the creative hub of Aldershot and the surrounding areas".[4] It was originally run by volunteers and faced closure in its early years until the Poet Laureate John Betjeman had the building locally listed.[5] The Graeae Theatre Company was based at the Centre from 1981 to 1982.[6][7]

When managed by Hampshire County Council the centre faced closure again in 2007 until public protests forced the decision to be reversed.[5] Every year since 2006 the West End Centre has held the Summer Westival which creates an indoor music festival complete with real grass throughout the venue.[4]

Performers who have appeared at the centre include Andy Parsons, Matt Forde, Sam Simmons, Roger McGough,[5] Seann Walsh, Stewart Lee, Adrian Henri,[5] Shappi Khorsandi, Miriam Margolyes, Omid Djalili, Dara Ó Briain, Jimmy Carr, Dave Gorman, Tony Hawks[8] Daniel Kitson,[9] Simon Munnery, Nish Kumar, Phill Jupitus, Justin Moorhouse, Pete Firman and Al Murray.[10]

Bands who have appeared at the WEC include Blur,[5] Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Spiritualized, A, Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers,[11] Peter Green, Chas & Dave, Foals, The 1975, Biffy Clyro, The Temperance Movement, Nine Below Zero, Funeral for a Friend, PJ Harvey, The Xcerts and We Are the Ocean.[10] The Centre has also provided support for local musicians Hundred Reasons and Sonny Black.[12]

Today the Centre is managed by Hampshire Cultural Trust as an arts centre and venue for professional touring shows, the theatre space having a capacity of 106 with raked seating.[2] From 2001 to 2019 the arts centre director was Barney Jeavons,[13][14] the former manager of the British rock band Reuben and the son of the actor Colin Jeavons.

  • The Dance Studio
    The Dance Studio
  • The Exhibition Hall
    The Exhibition Hall
  • The Pottery Workshop
    The Pottery Workshop
  • Art Workshop
    Art Workshop

See also

References

  1. ^ The West End Centre on the Princes Hall website
  2. ^ a b "West End Centre | house". Housetheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. ^ "West End Centre, Aldershot". Visit-hampshire.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "West End Centre Aldershot Events & Tickets 2021". Ents24. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "West End Centre in Aldershot Celebrates 40th Birthday – Get Hampshire website – 26 February 2015". gethampshire.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Graeae Theatre Company". Unfinishedhistories.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Graeae Theatre company, world's first professional theatre company of disabled actors". www.oocities.org. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  8. ^ The West End Centre on the Tony Hawks website
  9. ^ 'Daniel Kitson at the West End Centre, Aldershot' – The Times – 19 May 2008
  10. ^ a b "The West End Centre on the Get Hampshire website". Gethampshire.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  11. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  12. ^ "The West End Centre". Fleethants.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Barney Jeavons and the West End Centre – Hampshire Gateway website (2016)". Hampshiregateway.info. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Aldershot Civic Society Meeting with Barney Jeavons from the West End Centre – 25 October 2016". Aldershotcivicsociety.org.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.

External list