Autumn Programme of Events Launched by The Exchange, Twickenham

The Exchange, a new community facility in the heart of Twickenham, run by St Mary’s University, Twickenham, comprising of a theatre space for an audience of 300 people, six multi-purpose studio rooms and a large conservatory area, has opened, with a programme of cultural events now available for bookings.

The newly built venue owned by Richmond Council and leased to St Mary’s University under an agreement that the building will be used for a mixture of University use, Community Group use and public events, The Exchange will see it’s formal launch later this month.  

The initial Autumn programme, features a range of acts and public speakers, from The Flying Atoms who explore of forces and matter through exciting aerial dance for 7 – 11 year-olds and their families to an acclaimed solo performance from Ian Hughes, RSC actor and winner of the winner of the first Royal National Theatre Award for Best Actor, in The Dramatic Exploits of Edmund Kean, charting the rise and decline of the great Richmond-based 19th century actor.

In November, David Starkey will draw on his unique knowledge of Henry VIII’s reign in a talk titled, Henry VIII The First Brexiteer; Following her critically acclaimed 2016 international tour, Shazia Mirza will bring her brand new stand-up show for 2017 to the Exchange, and Helen Czerski will deliver her lecture, We Need To Talk About Physics: the everyday oddities that shed light on some of the most important science and technology of our time.

 In December, The Exchange will also host a rare Q&A with artist Jeremy Deller who was the brains behind the nationwide first world war memorial piece ‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ in 2016 which saw 1400 young men appear dressed as WW1 soldiers on the streets of Britain.

Upcoming Events include: 

• October 27th – Flying Atoms
• November 3rd – David Starkey: Henry VIII – The First Brexiteer?
• November 5th – Ian Hughes – The Dramatic Exploits of Edmund Kean
• November 8th – Shazia Mirza – With Love From St Tropez
• November 9th – Nancy Kerr and the Sweet Visitor Band
• November 17th – Luke Wright
• November 29th – Helen Czerski: We Need To Talk About Physics
• December 7th – Chris Wood – So Much to Defend
• December 8th – Jeremy Deller: Artist
• December 14th – Gary Younge: Another Day in the Death of America

 Box office bookings can be made through the venue’s website: www.exchangetwickenham.co.uk/events; or by calling the team directly on 0208 240 2399. Requests and public enquires can also be shared with the exchange team at exchangetwickenham@stmarys.ac.uk. 

Stuart Hobday, Creative Director for the Exchange commented, “We are beginning this Autumn with a programme of entertaining and thought-provoking events which we hope will offer the people of Twickenham a welcoming cultural space – and we look forward to extending this programme further in the future.”

“It is our hope that the Exchange will provide space and opportunity for creativity, expression, learning and enjoyment.”

The building, which has a 300-seat theatre in addition to a cafe and a bar, is situated directly opposite the entrance to Twickenham station, the site of a former Royal Mail sorting office, The Exchange forms part of the Brewery Wharf Development.

Once a full schedule is in place, there will be three or four ticketed events open to the public in the theatre per week. These are initially planned as one film per week, one author/spoken word event and programmed comedy, music or theatre production.

The studio rooms are also available for hire by local community groups with initial booking already being discussed with young people’s performing arts classes, after-school clubs and adult well-being classes.