The Stage

Komedia signs lease for new Bath venue

Published Thursday 31 July 2008 at 16:15 by Lalayn Baluch

Brighton-based live entertainment company Komedia has finally been given the green light to start refurbishment works on a new venue in Bath.

The company - which presents theatre, music, comedy, cabaret and kids shows - has signed and exchanged lease papers with Bath and North East Somerset Council, granting it permission to carry out building works on the former Beau Nash cinema in the city centre.

The new performance venue is scheduled to open this November, and will host comedians, live musical acts and cabaret shows.

Komedia Bath was set to open in late 2007, but delays in planning consent and continued negotiations with the local authority meant that the project has been held until now.

Colin Granger, co-founder of Komedia, said: “We’re over the moon Komedia Bath is now but a few months away from completion. We’ve got a superb design from our Bath architects, Stubbs Rich, to convert the former ABC cinema into a live arts venue and have already started work with Sturland Builders on transforming this wonderful building into a fully working space once again.”

Meanwhile, Ranjit Singh has been appointed as the company’s new chief executive. Singh previously worked with Komedia director Richard Daws at Brighton production company Victoria Real.

Komedia has also launched a new ticketing system in partnership with Dublin-based TicketSolve, which will be managed online by the venues.