The redevelopment of the historic Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London may take up to three years to complete.
The former theatre and cinema is set to be transformed into the first permanent European home for Cirque du Soleil.
Kier, the contractor leading the project, has outlined a 38-month construction timeline. A new 622-seat theatre will form the centrepiece of the site, with famed circus company Cirque Du Soleil initially attached as a potential resident for the performance space. The development will also feature a boutique hotel operated by citizenM and a food and drink offering by Incipio Group.
The building opened in 1931 and operated as a theatre for almost 40 years, the last few of which it was leased by Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who presented a variety of classic rock acts there including Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.
In 1970 the Saville became a cinema, and that’s how it’s spent over half of its life.