Kier appointed for £19m iconic Shakespeare North Playhouse

We are delighted to announce that we have been named as preferred bidder to build a brand new iconic Shakespeare North Playhouse for Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

The £19m attraction is the first of its kind in Knowsley and the Liverpool City Region and will sit in the heart of Prescot town centre. When complete, it will house a 350-seat theatre, performance studio, exhibition and education centre, coffee shop and office space.

Plans for a theatre in Prescot are more than 10 years in the making. The vision of Shakespeare North is to celebrate the Elizabethan and Jacobean heritage of Knowsley, a place with historic links to the Earl’s of Derby and Lord Strange’s men.

Work is due to start on site mid-2018 with construction work due to complete to coincide with William Shakespeare’s birthday in April 2020. The Playhouse will then welcome its first guests later that year.

As part of the project, we will be working with the local supply chain to strengthen the local economy. During construction 11 new apprenticeships and seven new jobs will be created and work placement, training, education and community activities for local schools will also be available.

Once complete, the Shakespeare North Playhouse will create over 200 permanent roles while bringing £5.3m Gross Value Added to the Liverpool City Region and attracting over 100,000 visitors every year.