Historic Assembly Hall inside Leamington's Town Hall will be transformed to host one of the town's most creative companies

The historic Assembly Hall within Leamington Town Hall will be transformed to host one of the town's most creative companies.

Warwick District Council has announced that international dance-circus company Motionhouse will be leasing the hall, making its new home in the heart of Leamington.

This will transform this previously underutilised venue into a fully equipped professional rehearsal space and hopefully unlock a wide range of other community benefits including a new performance studio.

It will be also boost the council's ambitions to create a Creative Quarter, covering the town hall and parts of Old Town.

Louise Richards, executive director of Motionhouse: “We are delighted to be moving into the town hall and to be part of the vision to make the building a creative focal point as part of the new Creative Framework and the planned Creative Quarter.

"The Assembly Hall provides the perfect space to create our work in to take to audiences across the world. But importantly, the space has the major advantage of bringing us into the town - it is a place where we can share our work and our creativity with local people.”

Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger, portfolio holder for culture at Warwick District Council: “Being able to bring a world renowned dance company into the heart of the town is a great opportunity, resonating perfectly with the district’s newly launched Creative Compact and the development of the Creative Quarter in Leamington Spa.

"Bringing creative businesses into the town centre is at the heart of our vision to be a driving force for culture in the Midlands and we hope that such a well-known name will help attract other creative businesses. To be able to see the company working is going to be a fantastic opportunity for residents – particularly young people.”

To make their world-class dance-circus productions that tour the UK and the globe, Motionhouse needs a large space with high ceilings, and the Assembly Hall, accommodates these requirements perfectly.

Renowned for their integration of digital and live performance, Motionhouse secured capital investment from Arts Council England to create a fully equipped creative development studio within their previous rehearsal space at the Vitsœ site in Leamington.

The equipment has moved with Motionhouse, offering an opportunity to develop a new creative space in the town centre.

Motionhouse said that the installation is free-standing and does not impact the fabric of this Grade II listed building.

The move was also welcomed by Stephanie Kerr, executive director of BID Leamington, who said: “The creation of a rehearsal space for Motionhouse in the town hall is exciting.

"As well as bringing economic benefits from having dancers and staff working in and visiting the town, it breathes creative energy into this beautiful property. Taking on a space in the Town Hall, may also encourage other creative companies to consider working in the heart of the town. Importantly, it also demonstrates that Leamington is a town that supports and values creativity and understands the positive role that the creative industries play in people’s lives”.

David Guilding, arts manager at Warwick District Council, said: “We see this as a truly innovative, ground-breaking collaboration which demonstrates the commitment of Warwick District Council to supporting the recovery of the creative industries during this most challenging of times.

"It also recognises the important contribution that the creative sector makes to our district. It makes excellent use of the Assembly Hall, benefitting the town’s residents by offering a welcoming, world class creative space at the heart of the town and an opportunity for residents from across the district to benefit through regular access to Motionhouse’s programme, insights into the creative process, showings of work, training and education opportunities.”

Peter Knott, area director for Arts Council England, said: “We wish Motionhouse every success as they move into their new space, and look forward to seeing them continue to make innovative and exciting work in the heart of Leamington.

“Creativity has the power to bring people together, to connect communities and make the places we live vibrant and exciting – even during lockdown restrictions. Having an international dance company like Motionhouse is a great asset to the town, and with their rehearsal equipment installed in a new space, it’s a great opportunity for even more local people to experience world-class dance and creativity right on their doorstep.”

Leamington mayor, Cllr Susan Rasmussen, said: “When I heard Motionhouse was coming to the town hall I knew the timing was perfect to make the company one of my mayoral charities of the year.

"I hope that by being in the centre of town they will become an even more central part of the cultural life of our town. We are indeed privileged to have outstanding artists living and working in our midst and I want as many people as possible to join me in supporting them this coming year.”