LS-Live and Backstage Academy have joined the community benefit co-operative set up to restore the Grade II listed Unity Hall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The venue, which was a much used event space following its establishment as the Wakefield Co-operative headquarters in 1867, has been closed for the last decade.

Unity House Wakefield Limited formed in 2011 with the intention of generating funds to restore the building and turn it into a major music venue, conference centre and location for creative businesses.

The development team, led by director Chris Hill, raised £4m for the structural elements of the venue, but its bid for £300,000 from the Arts Council to finish the interior of the building was declined.

Stage, set and studio company LS-Live, and its affiliated industry training centre Backstage Academy, have invested in the co-operative and will be providing consultancy on the technical specification of the venue.

Together with Theatre Royal, which is situated opposite Unity Hall in the city centre, Backstage Academy will support the venue’s events programme with staff and students.

“We are very keen to see this iconic Wakefield building restored to its former glory,” co-founder/director of courses, Robin Watkinson, said.

“The city is undergoing a huge amount of regeneration at present and with our estimated growth and influx of new students this November, we are looking forward to helping develop an exciting event space for Wakefield, which will also become a new, high-tech learning environment for our students.”  

A fundraising event is being held at The New Inn in Walton, Wakefield on Thursday 11 July from 6:00pm, where guests can hear about the plans for Unity Hall and buy shares in the co-operative.

Developer Chris Hill and Backstage Academy’s Adrian Brooks will speak at 7:00pm and food will be provided. Please RSVP to chris.hill@unityhallwakefield.co.uk

LS-Live and Backstage Academy have joined the community benefit co-operative set up to restore the Grade II listed Unity Hall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The venue, which was a much used event space following its establishment as the Wakefield Co-operative headquarters in 1867, has been closed for the last decade.

Unity House Wakefield Limited formed in 2011 with the intention of generating funds to restore the building and turn it into a major music venue, conference centre and location for creative businesses.

The development team, led by director Chris Hill, raised £4m for the structural elements of the venue, but its bid for £300,000 from the Arts Council to finish the interior of the building was declined.

Stage, set and studio company LS-Live, and its affiliated industry training centre Backstage Academy, have invested in the co-operative and will be providing consultancy on the technical specification of the venue.

Together with Theatre Royal, which is situated opposite Unity Hall in the city centre, Backstage Academy will support the venue’s events programme with staff and students.

“We are very keen to see this iconic Wakefield building restored to its former glory,” co-founder/director of courses, Robin Watkinson, said.

“The city is undergoing a huge amount of regeneration at present and with our estimated growth and influx of new students this November, we are looking forward to helping develop an exciting event space for Wakefield, which will also become a new, high-tech learning environment for our students.”  

A fundraising event is being held at The New Inn in Walton, Wakefield on Thursday 11 July from 6:00pm, where guests can hear about the plans for Unity Hall and buy shares in the co-operative.

Developer Chris Hill and Backstage Academy’s Adrian Brooks will speak at 7:00pm and food will be provided. Please RSVP to chris.hill@unityhallwakefield.co.uk