LS-Live joins effort to restore Unity Hall

STAGE, set and studio company LS-Live has joined the team that is restoring a Grade two listed hall into a major music venue, conference centre and a hub for creative businesses.

Unity Hall in Wakefield, which was a much used event space following its establishment as the Wakefield Co-operative headquarters in 1867, has been closed for the last decade.

Unity House Wakefield Ltd formed in 2011 with the intention of raising funds to restore the building.

The development team, led by director Chris Hill, raised £4m to restore the structural elements of the venue, but its bid to the Arts Council for £300,000 to finish the interior of the building was declined.

LS-Live, and its affiliated industry training centre Backstage Academy in South Kirkby, Wakefield, have invested in the co-operative and will be providing consultancy on the technical specification of the venue.

Together with Theatre Royal, which is situated opposite Unity Hall in the city centre, Backstage Academy will support the venue’s events programme with staff and students.

Backstage Academy co-founder and director of courses Robin Watkinson said: “We are very keen to see this iconic Wakefield building restored to its former glory.

“The city is undergoing a huge amount of regeneration at present, and with our estimated growth and influx of new students this November, we are looking forward to helping develop an exciting event space for Wakefield, which will also become a new, high-tech learning environment for our students.”

LS-Live managing director and Backstage Academy founder Adrian Brooks added: “Having lived in Wakefield for over 30 years and having been in business in the city for the majority of that time, it is with some considerable pride that two of those businesses are now able to take a leading role in restoring this once great and iconic building.

“Unity Hall is one of Wakefield’s landmark buildings, and as such, returning it to its former glory will have a very positive effect on the remainder of Westgate, and the wider city, hopefully becoming the catalyst for a much needed and rapid and positive improvement in this important street.

“Buildings are only buildings of course, and at the end of the day it’s what goes on inside them that really counts. This is where I hope we are really able to make a difference to the Unity project, by helping to create wonderful spaces where musicians can perform, students can learn, people can meet, ideas can be shared, and some great times can be had by all. It is in my view another important step on the road to making Wakefield city centre a great place to be.”

The space will be turned into a 600-seater (800 standing) live music venue, a 150-seater function room, office and meeting spaces, exhibition space, retail space and eateries.

A fundraising event is being held at The New Inn in Walton, Wakefield on Thursday July 11 from 6pm onwards where guests can hear about the plans for Unity Hall and buy shares in the co-operative.