StephenJ wrote:Assuming that the heritage centre is too small to accommodate the same size of audience as the picture house, wouldn't the school hall be the next closest venue in size? Was that possibility investigated?
The Grammar School hall will seat up to about 500 (the Picture House seats 265). It has proper stage electrics and a full lighting rig already installed (with both analogue and DMX connections to the back of the hall for mixing etc.).
Unfortunately it wouldn't have been available for the 2010 festival, as the works to replace ceilings, lighting and heating system in the hall, gyms and dining rooms (including the new FOH lighting bars) were only completed that weekend.
The school hall will be available next year. As for distance to the town centre, I think it's not much more than 600 yards . . .