New role for historic Liverpool Olympia
- Alan Hulme
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The historic Liverpool Olympia venue has taken on Community Interest Company status, to further its ambitions to offer cultural and educational opportunities for people living nearby.
Liverpool Olympia CIC will create opportunities for local people in community activities, arts, education and training. The CIC - a type of limited company operating for community benefit - will also look for local, regional and national funding.
Liverpool Olympia managing director Chris Zorba said: “I’m proud to collaborate with Liverpool Olympia CIC to preserve the 120-year heritage of this iconic building and ensure its future, both as an entertainment venue and as a community hub.
“Our vision is to continue providing artistic and community programmes, which will now be delivered and developed by the CIC. But we also see ourselves as custodians of this local asset and want to protect the heritage of the building.
"As part of this process we will be making a number of applications to funding bodies with the aim of bringing the fabric of the building back to its former glory.”
Alan Smith, head of heritage preservation and development at Liverpool City Council, added: “The Olympia is a magnificent example of Liverpool’s architectural treasures. The building is the new gateway to the city’s ‘town within a town’ restoration plans, which extend from Everton to Bootle and can once again play a leading role in our musical repertoire."
:: The Olympia, in the West Derby Road area of the city, was designed by Frank Matcham - the visionary British architect responsible for more than 90 theatres across the country. It opened in 1905 as a purpose-built indoor circus and variety theatre, accommodating 4,000 people spread across the stalls and three balconies.
Animals were housed in a large basement area known as the elephant pit, and aquatic shows were staged in a huge tank below floor level, which
could hold 80,000 gallons of water.
During its century-long history it has hosted legends such as Harry Houdini, the Beatles and Little Richard, and in more recent times has welcomed Robert Plant, Paul Weller and Liverpool’s Elvis Costello, the Zutons and, earlier this month, Robbie Williams - a sold-out show.
In its time the building has also been a pioneering cinema (one of the first regional venues to show talking pictures); a wartime Royal Naval depot; a famous dance hall – the Locarno – and a Mecca bingo hall.
More info here