New theatre boss plans to bring top acts to Gravesend this year (From News Shopper)

New theatre boss plans to bring top acts to Gravesend this year

11:35am Monday 23rd January 2012 in Stage By Alan Woods

TOP celebrity acts will perform in Gravesend this year if the new Woodville Halls boss gets his way.

Neil Chandler, aged 34, has officially taken over at the helm of the Gravesend theatre this month and already has big plans to revitalise the venue.

With a wealth of experience following a two and a half year stint as manager at Fairfield Halls in Croydon, Mr Chandler is striving to get Gravesend’s theatre on the map.

He said: “We’re going to be taking Woodville Halls to a different level – we want to give it a new direction.

“It’s about getting the promoter’s confidence up to bring the big shows to the venue.

“Everything is money-based so they’re not going to send people here until we can prove it’s worth it for them.

“I won’t be happy if this time next year we are getting the same acts from the 60’s.”

With a sell-out performance from Jimmy Carr scheduled for March and family-favourite Zippo’s Circus arriving next month, Mr Chandler wants to attract more shows than ever.

Plans look to bring the top acts to the town for longer, offering week-long productions as well as quality one-night performances – whilst keeping ticket prices low.

He added: “If we have an auditorium with nothing in it we’re losing money - every time this venue is open there needs to be something happening.”

Classical music concerts are being proposed for matinee shows on Thursday whilst plans are in the pipeline to show films on a big-screen during the day.

Tribute shows – currently featuring heavily on the Woodville Halls agenda – will be kept to the minimum, with Mr Chandler assessing these are available elsewhere in Gravesend.

Mr Chandler said: “We’re absolutely accountable to the people of Gravesend that what we do here is what they want to come and see.”