Curtain up on a new wee theatre
THESE days you can catch a good show in more places than just your traditional theatre. From shows in small houses to performances on moving transporter bridges, the world of theatre is becoming more and more special every day.
And now there’s a new addition to unique theatre listings, as a former public toilet block has been transformed into a tiny arts space.
The building, which was previously a gentlemen’s conveniences in Alexandra Road in Pill, Newport, and thought to have been built in the late 1800s, has undergone renovation.
It now has a new lease of life as a theatre with a capacity of around 25 to 30 seats.
After buying the toilet block at an auction last year, Janet Martin, who has been involved with the arts scene in Newport for 35 years, has been working hard to transform the Grade II-listed lavatory building.
It came up for sale with an auction house and someone else appeared to buy it. However, that bid fell through and Janet, 64, then bought it directly from Newport City Council for £15,000.
Janet, who also runs the Barnabas Arts Centre in Pill, said: “We bought it just before Christmas [2017] but had to wait until June for permission to take the urinals out because it’s a listed building.
“But what we were able to do, prior to that, was the repair work – the roof had gone, the beams supporting the building were crumbling, there were cracks in the walls.”
In total, Janet said the whole thing, including the renovation work, labour and the building itself, cost around £75,000 to fix up.
She added: “I believe Newport is a really good place and although my business could’ve been in other parts of the world, I chose to stay put in Newport because I believe in Newport.
“This particular building I’ve noticed for many years and always thought it was a bit cute and a bit quirky.”
The space has been named the Phyllis Maud Performance Space, after Janet’s late aunt, and is set to open in spring 2019.
“She was like a mother to me,” said Janet.