Chester's £37m cultural centre Storyhouse will open to the public in spring 2017 after a decision was taken not to rush the scheme in time for the original launch date.

It had been hoped to introduce the new city centre building, incorporating the former Odeon, to the world in late 2016.

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There were even plans for a Christmas show within a centre that will house a 500/800-seat theatre, single screen cinema and relocated main library.

But this has now been abandoned as all partners involved in the project agree it would be a mistake to open the venue before it is properly ready.

Project director Graham Lister in the Green Room at Storyhouse

“We think that by the end of the year the construction work will be complete,” explained project director Graham Lister, who says the scheme is two-thirds complete with the structure now finished and fit-out well under way.

And he revealed the detailed opening programme, including the first show, will be announced this autumn.

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Graham continued: “So what we feel is that by September we will be in a place to announce the opening programme, for all the public, which is likely to be spring 2017.

“The thing that all of our partners are saying – in terms of the Arts Council, in terms of our investors like MBNA, the council, me, the library people – we are all saying, we’re spending a lot of money on this building, it’s a huge investment that’s been made, people have waited for a long, long time.

The main auditorium of Storyhouse

“It’s important it’s not rushed and the worst thing that can happen is that you open it badly. You’ve seen it so many times elsewhere and you ask ‘Why have you opened?’. And you’ve blown it for the first 18 months of your opening programme.

“We want to bring people with us.”

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Both before and after Christmas 2016 there will be a number of warm-up events, tours and ‘sharings’ that will run alongside a testing programme to ensure the centre’s complex mechanical and electrical systems are working fine.

Project director Graham Lister in the foyer of Storyhouse where the library will be located with a single screen cinema 'box' on the first floor with ground floor cafe-bar below.

These events will include an ‘80th birthday party’ within the building this October to mark the anniversary of the opening of the Odeon in 1936 by Mr and Mrs Oscar Deutsch, the founder of Odeon Cinemas, film star Douglas Fairbanks Junior, The Jack Payne Band, the mayor and the architects.

The project director says there’s a buzz in the arts world about Storyhouse.

“These projects don’t happen very often, so there’s real excitement,” enthused Graham, who says ‘a real statement is being made’ in terms of cultural provision.

Soundproof insulation has been installed at the new cinema within Storyhouse

He continued: “This building will operate on a national level. It will receive touring, really good high quality touring work, which will come in during the winter and then really great high quality productions which will be made here.

“But of course the thing that is new is that interaction between the library and the performing arts because it’s uncharted territory. I do know these things and I haven’t heard of anywhere else that’s doing that."

Project director Graham Lister shows off a prototype for the chairs that will feature in Storyhouse