Hidden time capsule to be placed in Cambridge Arts Theatre auditorium during refurbishment
Cambridge Arts Theatre is to place a hidden time capsule within building works for its redevelopment project, to commemorate the refurbishment, preserve the history of the theatre, and communicate with future theatre-goers.
The capsule will be placed on Tuesday, 24 June, beneath the auditorium seating in the theatre’s newly-redesigned balcony, in the hope it will remain unseen for decades to come.
The Arts Theatre is calling out to the local Cambridgeshire community to ask what should be included in the time capsule.
To suggest ideas, email [email protected] by Friday, 13 June.
Caitlin Clark, the theatre’s marketing manager, said: “We’re extremely excited to celebrate our transformational redevelopment with a time capsule project, and we hope it remains hidden deep underneath the new auditorium seating for many years.
“Over the next couple of weeks, we will be scratching our brains to decide what to fill the capsule with, so we urge the Cambridge community to get involved and let us know their thoughts!”
Cambridge Arts Theatre is undergoing a major redevelopment project, made possible by a £16million gift from Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury via the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
The redevelopment project, designed by architect Ian Chalk, includes a refurbishment of the current auditorium, upgraded audience facilities, improved technical services, sight lines and acoustic performance.
Meanwhile, the theatre is to host its second redevelopment community drop-ins on Saturday, 7 June, at 10am-noon.
Held in its box office, the drop-in will give theatre-goers the opportunity to chat to the team and learn more about the building works.
There will be information, architectural plans and a timelapse video on display.
Caitlin said: “Following the success of our first community drop-in back in February, we’re opening our box office doors once again so customers new and old can stop by and chat to the Theatre team.
“There’ll be an opportunity to see exciting architectural plans, material samples and ask questions about the exciting changes to our building.”
The Arts Theatre is set to welcome audiences back in late autumn 2025, in time for its annual pantomime, which this year will be Sleeping Beauty.
In January, the theatre donated 400 theatre seats to the Amulet Theatre, Shepton Mallet, a theatre in Somerset that was built in 1975 but has been out of public use since 2011.
Its original seating was damaged beyond repair due to a water leak.
It was John Maynard Keynes, one of the most influential economists of modern times, who originally funded the construction of the Cambridge Arts Theatre in 1936.
Visit artstheatre-redevelopment.com.
