The Point, Eastleigh

The Point is a theatre and dance studio for contemporary performance and contemporary dance. It operates in Hampshire England, under Eastleigh Borough Council. As of April 2015, The Point was listed as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

The Point
TPE
LocationEastleigh, Hampshire
Coordinates50.970431, -1.355527
Public transitEastleigh Bus Station
OperatorEastleigh Borough Council
Capacity312
Opened1997
Website
www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk

The Point presents a year-round programme of theatre, 35mm film (non digital projection), light entertainment and contemporary dance performance.[1]

The Point is often used by local community and local amateur dramatic groups throughout the year, all presenting a wide variety of different productions, including but not limited to dance, musicals, dramas and pantomimes. The venue is available to hire and has a substantial technical capabilities.

Every summer, The Point runs a free outdoor festival called Eastleigh Unwrapped.[2] The festival takes place on the Leigh Road Recreation Ground directly outside The Point, bringing a variety of circus, theatre, aerial and dance to the residence of Eastleigh. The festival first started in 2013 and just had its 7th event on Saturday 22 June 2019.

2018 saw The Point start a Summer Social season,[3] utilising its outdoor space to bring even more events and things to do for local residents. The technical department of The Point made an outdoor bar and outdoor furniture to create a chill out summer venue for a variety of live music, family activities, wellbeing yoga and film screenings. The season was well received and has returned for a second year in 2019.

It features a 312-seat theatre fitted with a single Cinemeccanica Victoria V projector in a single tower configuration, a rehearsal studio, a dance studio, a dancing garden, a café, meeting rooms and a purpose built 'Creation Space' studio. It includes residential accommodation for up to eight artists, so that visiting companies may live on site.

The director of the Point is Sacha Lee.

History

It was established in 1997 with one of the first National Lottery grants.

In November 2009, The Point opened its new Phase3 production space officially opened by artist and choreographer Akram Khan (dancer). Phase3 is a purpose-built 375-square-metre (4,036-square-foot) studio space, including the "Creation Space[4]" and residences. It has a sprung wooden floor and infrastructure for lighting, sound and multi-media.

In 2011, Eastleigh Borough Council opened a sister venue to The Point in Hedge End named The Berry Theatre. The 308-seater venue, which focuses on theatre for families and children, sits on the grounds of Wildern School and was officially opened by actor/director, Samuel West.

In 2015, The Point's foyer and café bar[5] was refurbished with funding from Eastleigh Borough Council and Arts Council England, featuring the work of artists from The Sorting Office studios.

22 January 2015 saw The Point host the BBC's topical debate programme Question Time.[6] MPs that attended the show included Tim Farron MP (Lib-Dem spokesperson on Foreign Affairs at time), Paul Nuttall MEP (Deputy Leader of UKIP at time) and Diane Abbott MP (Prospective Mayor of London at time).[7]

In 2019, the Point unveiled its Your Point fundraising project[8] - a transformation project to create an exciting studio theatre space for young people and an accessible, welcoming building for all. The project is also due to include a refurbishment of the buildings toilet facilities as well as backstage dressing rooms. The Point has a fund-raising toilet located within its foyer, built by the venue's own technical department to allow people to donate to the project in a fun and different way.

Phase3

The design was created by duo Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsely (box office); film maker and artist Alys Scott Hawkins (sail-inspired sunshade for the roof terrace), sculptor Jon Mills (metal railings that surround the roof terrace), textile designer Ann Sutton (interior carpets and upholstery fabrics), Bernard Forrester (dance-inspired gold and silver swirls on the interior walls); designer Louise Slater (light fittings); visual artist Carole Waller (glass installation in the Atrium), and artist Peter Freeman, (rooftop, LED light installation).

The Domicile is composed of four strands: "Space for ideas" aims to create intensive engagements between visiting and local artists. "Artists quarters" offers support to emerging and early career artists and artistic companies. A year-long residency for four companies provides master classes and workshops, support and direction from industry experts, business and marketing development and opportunities to meet and talk with resident and visiting artists. "Home from Home" is a residency program for those who have completed Artists Quarters. This strand gives the opportunity to make The Point the artist/company's principle creative base. "Potential" provides opportunities for aspiring young choreographers (14 to 21-years) to engage with innovative choreographic ideas through classes.

References
  1. "What's on in Eastleigh, Southampton". www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. "Eastleigh Unwrapped". eastleighunwrapped.com. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. "Summer Social - The Point". www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  4. "Creation Space - The Point". www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  5. "Places to Eat Eastleigh, Southampton | Pre-Theatre Meals". www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. "BBC One - Question Time, 22/01/2015". BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. says, BBC One Question Time From Eastleigh: Thursday 22 January 2015 (23 January 2015). "Review: BBC One Question Time Eastleigh 2015". Chandler's Ford Today. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  8. "Your Point - The Point". www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2019.

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