More details have been announced today about the £10m drama base at the former Fujitsu site in Gorton.
Led by The Sharp Project’s Sue Woodward, the 360,000sq ft site will be made up of more than 50,000sq ft of production space.
Woodward, who devised the new development feels that it will benefit from the UK’s growing drama production sector, which has in turn been helped by tax breaks for high end productions.
“Demand has grown for space since we opened the stages at the Sharp Project, to the extent that we have had to repeatedly turn productions away. This, coupled with the tax incentive programme, made a sound business case for investment,” said Woodward.
“Production companies know that we go that extra mile to help them make great content and it is this attitude towards our clients, backed by great talent across the North, which is already driving huge interest in the new site, even before the steel is in the ground.”
This view is supported by Objective Productions’ Jenny Hay:
“We couldn’t have been happier with our home here at The Sharp Project for the past three series of Fresh Meat, and everything the facility and its first rate team have been able to provide. It’s a top quality space and we’ll certainly be amongst the first to consider the new drama hub for any future productions,” said Hay, who’s the production executive for comedy at Objective.
The 5 studios will range in size from 30m x 28.2m to 42,8m x 24.7m and in height from 6.6m to 9.15m.
There will also be dedicated support space adjacent to each of the stages including dressing rooms, shower facilities and laundry. An 8,000sq ft workshop will have an extensive canopy to protect set items from being exposed to the Manchester elements.
A screening area will also be on site.
The site is owned by Manchester City Council, which will be putting in place a management team to run it. The drama hub is preparing to open its doors in May next year, with work having started this week.