Revamped theatre will have 'something for everyone'

The director of Peterborough's Cresset Theatre described her first year in the role as "a privilege", as the venue looked ahead to major redevelopment and its 50th anniversary.

Louise Chantal joined the Cresset initially on a part-time basis before becoming a full-time director. She said she had no previous connection to Peterborough and had never visited the Bretton venue before taking on the role.

"I have met so many interesting people and worked with a team that genuinely cares about the Cresset and its audience," she said.

Looking ahead, Ms Chantal hopes to reinvent the Cresset's image, with a focus on families and younger audiences and added: "I want to bring something for everyone."

The 900-seater theatre, based in Bretton Centre, is managed by YMCA Trinity Group. The centre also has a library, a day care service, shops, a church, and a pub.

It is self-funded, and year-end profits are put back into the charity.

Ms Chantal said the venue's close working relationship with the YMCA has helped integrate arts programmes with the community, particularly for disadvantaged young people.

"It's about breaking down barriers," she said.

Over the past year, the Cresset has seen ticket sales rise by about 30%, with strong demand for family events, Ms Chantal said.

"Our panto is very much a community event," she added.

"There's a warmth to it...We want people to leave having had a night of joy."

The venue is working to expand its programme, with a focus on events aimed at younger and family audiences, including three K-Pop shows for young people and a jazz show with Andy Sheppard, a jazz saxophonist, who is performing at the site on 19 February.

Looking ahead, Ms Chantal, 57, said preparations were under way for the venue's 50th anniversary, including a feasibility study being carried out with Peterborough City Council and the YMCA board.

"There's a lot of work to be done on the building," she said. "But we're determined to look at what the Cresset can be over the next five years."

A new community hub is also due to open at the site in February, further strengthening its role as a shared space for local residents.

Ms Chantal said one of her biggest challenges was encouraging people who had not visited the Cresset in recent years to return.

"With 30 years of experience working in venues as an independent producer in the West End, in national tours, in the Olympics, all these things, I can bring a new eye to The Cresset," she said.

"If you haven't been here for a while, I want people to think differently.

"There's a real focus on young people and families, but there's also music and world-class comedy that people might not realise we host."

In 2024, a £5m refurbishment project for the Cresset was announced, including new seating and a roof replacement.

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