A new public performance space next to Huddersfield Parish Church is almost complete and a big opening day event is planned for later this month.

While work is all but finished – several weeks ahead of schedule – the hoardings around the site next to St Peter’s Gardens will remain for a little while yet.

The new £500,000 performance space, a partnership between the church and Kirklees Council, will be officially opened on Saturday September 21.

The ribbon will be cut by former Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, who stood down after 45 years as the town’s MP at the General Election in July.

The opening will follow straight after the annual ‘Celebrate Huddersfield’ service held inside the church.

Barry will be one of the speakers who will talk about what Huddersfield means to them and why the town should be celebrated.

The event will be attended by civic leaders and local dignitaries including new Huddersfield MP Harpreet Uppal, Mayor of Kirklees Clr Nosheen Dad and the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Ed Anderson CBE.

 

 

Vicar of Huddersfield the Rev Canon Rachel Firth said she was excited to unveil the new space and added: “It is almost completed – ahead of schedule – and we are getting ready for the opening.

“The contractors have been amazing and so sensitive and respectful of the space and its surroundings.

“There’s just a few minor snagging issues to sort out and the hoardings will come down nearer the opening day.”

Rachel said it was the second time the ‘Celebrate Huddersfield’ service had been held and Barry had been invited so the town could thank him for his near half-century of service.

“We hope it’ll be a proper ‘thank you’ and a goodbye to Barry whose 45 years of service to the town deserves to be acknowledged.”

The service will be held at 3pm with the opening afterwards at 4.15pm. The opening event will have a varied line-up of musical talent and performing groups on stage.

Performers confirmed so far include Stagecoach Theatre Company, Hade Edge Band, Fifth Wheel Jazz Collective, Pat Fulgoni and rock band Storm.

Foodies will be catered for too courtesy of Huddersfield chef Barrington Douglas, whose popular Discovery Bay Caribbean restaurant was just around the corner from St Peter’s Gardens. The bar will be run by The Keys Coffee House and Kitchen.

Rachel said the new space would offer a “different dynamic” to any other events space in the town centre and would be available for rent for the whole community.

“It’ll be a rentable space and while there will be boundaries, of course, and it has to be appropriate, it’s not just for religious, classical or traditional purposes,” she said.

“St Peter’s as a church is very accessible and inclusive and we hope people come and join us and see how the space could work for their organisation.”

 

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