The Rose Theatre
On January 16, 2008, the Rose opened its doors for the first time as a working theatre.
It has taken almost 80 years, but Kingston now has a world-class theatre which promises to become the cultural heart of the borough and south west London.
It also has arguably the world's greatest director, Sir Peter Hall, at the helm.
Sir Peter, who set up the Royal Shakespeare Company and was director of the National Theatre for 15 years, has promised a broad repertoire catering to a wide range of tastes. The unifying factor will be the quality of the performances.
The Rose, whose design was inspired by the Elizabethan theatre of the same name, has been lauded by a host of leading directors as an extraordinary theatrical space.
The main auditorium seats 900 and a 200 seat studio theatre, plus a gallery and other spaces are also planned.
The Rose will not only bring world class theatre to our doorstep but will also deliver an outstanding educational programme that will reach thousands of young people, from university drama students to youngsters in primary schools.
Not only this, but it will bring jobs, business and opportunities to the area.
It has been estimated that the value of this will amount to at least £10million a year.
And it also has the potential to rebalance Kingston's nightlife - currently dominated by nightclubs and bars.
The Surrey Comet has supported the theatre project for many years and we are delighted that it has finally opened.
Now that the theatre is finally open we want everyone in the community to join us and help make it the resounding success we all want it to be.
Which is why we have dedicated this part of the website to bringing you all the latest news on the theatre as it happens.
Sean Duggan
Editor, Surrey Comet
