Yarm School has appointed Dan Brookes as manager of its prestigious Princess Alexandra Auditorium (PAA).
The trained actor joins Yarm School from the Forum in Northallerton where he turned the community venue into a thriving and diverse performing arts venue. Dan will have responsibility for both school and external events and building on the 750 seat PAA’s already excellent reputation.
Household names including Jimmy Carr, who has two sold out shows in December, Elkie Brooks and Leo Sayer are booked to appear in 2017 and Darlington Operatic Society is performing Spamalot at the auditorium for a week during October.
Dan has big plans to ensure that the shows are enjoyed by the whole community and hopes to introduce new initiatives including National Theatre Live screenings in the school’s new Lecture Theatre which has a HD projector and surround sound.
Dan said: “I am passionate about involving young people in the performing arts and making them more accessible to the wider community.
“The Princess Alexandra Auditorium is a fantastic facility and my ambition is to support the school’s own productions and build on the already excellent programme of events to bring music, theatre and comedy to Yarm School for everyone to enjoy.”
Headmaster of Yarm School David Dunn added: “Dan’s background and experience will bring a new dimension to the management of the Auditorium and we are delighted that he has joined us.
“Yarm School pupils are extremely talented and have put on some outstanding shows including Guys and Dolls and the extremely popular Christmas productions. There are many exciting shows planned for the future. It is a privilege to also welcome well-known performers and introduce the auditorium and all it offers to many more people.
The Princess Alexandra Auditorium is a stunning 750-seat performance venue based on the banks of the River Tees at Yarm School.
The auditorium has been designed and built to the highest performance specifications. The facility has been awarded a commendation by the Civic Trust Awards and two prestigious RIBA Awards for design excellence.
There is an orchestra pit, a bespoke 4 tier digital organ and specialist acoustics. The space is fully flexible, with tiered retractable seating, as well as a Studio Theatre and a Recital Room, both available in different configurations as well as the larger auditorium space.
Tickets for all events are available on the Princess Alexandra Auditorium’s website:http://www.