Partner Article

Countess of Wessex to open Playhouse

North Tyneside receives a royal visitor today as the Countess of Wessex arrives in the borough for a two-day tour.

As part of her visit the Countess will officially open the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay, and will stop off at Tynemouth RNLI station and the North Shield’s Seafood Training Centre, which is ensuring traditional fishing industry skills continue to thrive.

North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Mrs Linda Arkley said: “I am delighted that the Countess of Wessex can take time out of her busy schedule to visit North Tyneside and I am sure she will enjoy her visit to three venues that are important to the borough and its communities.

“The PLAYHOUSE theatre is a stunning venue that is catering for both professional and community productions and is helping bring in audiences from across the region.”

During the visit The Countess will meet those involved in the project and spend a short time watching entertainment on the stage by local school children and the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which is currently appearing at the PLAYHOUSE.

Her Royal Highness will also visit the Seafood Training Centre (STC) – the North East base of the national Seafood Training Academy – which provides training targeted at improving the skills of existing members of the fishing workforce, as well as new entrants to the industry.

The centre is based within the £5.2million North Shields Food Park, which has been purpose-built to provide accommodation for the food processing industry, and forms part of the Fish Quay regeneration.

Mrs Arkley added: “The Seafood Training Centre is an important project in the regeneration of the North Shields Fish Quay being delivered through a successful partnership approach, including £700,000 provided by One North East. Now this exciting facility is playing a key part in supporting the fishing industry that is so vital to our regional economy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .