Fareham Live: Tickets sales 'off to a great start' as new venue hailed a 'huge success'

Trafalgar Theatres, the theatre division of leading global live entertainment company Trafalgar Entertainment, was awarded the contract to operate Fareham Live by Fareham Borough Council in June 2023. And at the last full Fareham Borough Council meeting of the year, leisure chief Councillor Sue Walker (Con, Portchester West) said she was pleased to announce the “incredible success” of selling 3,600 tickets in six weeks.

The council’s executive member for leisure and community, Cllr Walker said: “Early ticket sales indicate an incredible success with more than 3,600 tickets sold within the first six weeks since the website was launched.”

She said there are also 5,000 email subscribers along with social media followers that are growing daily. New shows are being released weekly with Trafalgar Theatres working to fill the performance calendar well into 2025.

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Cllr Walker said new jobs and appointments are being made at Fareham Live, in Osborn Road and formerly known as Ferneham Hall, in the coming weeks. She said: “It [Fareham Live] is a huge success already. Trafalgar Theatres are delighted with the amount of ticket sales and revenue that is already coming in. And I am really pleased with the efforts being made by everyone to get to that stage.”

Opening night will be on Tuesday, October 1 when leading Australian actor Jason Donovan will be part of a talented cast as the charismatic Frank N Furter in the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll musical The Rocky Horror Show. Fareham Live’s pantomime Cinderella will feature Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard and his Love Island star brother Curtis Pritchard, and the opening season also includes shows from Jimmy Carr, Jane McDonald, Anton du Beke, Adam Kay and Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

At this last full council meeting of his tenure as Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Seán Woodward wanted to set the record straight about the cost and funding of Fareham Live, putting to bed any misinformation and providing clarity. He said: “The rubbish that trots out of some of these social media channels is just crazy.”

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Councillor Woodward said the initial project was agreed in 2020 but paused due to the pandemic. In 2022 the overall project budget was set at £16.69m, including building costs, contingencies, consultant’s fees and furniture, fittings and equipment purchases.

The council assumed it would have to borrow money and pay it back over a seven-year plan. This has not proved necessary as Fareham Live and car park costs will be paid for using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Cllr Woodward said: “Fareham Live will now be paid for using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in the year 2024/25, with no contributions needed from council tax. Provision of new assets, such as Fareham Live and the car park, represents capital expenditure.”

He was pleased at the thought of Fareham Live playing a big part in the future of the area. He said: “Going forward it is anticipated that Fareham Live will play an important role in the regeneration of Fareham Town Centre and help to bring many more people into the town centre thus boosting the local economy.”

The brand-new arts and entertainment centre will consist of a large auditorium with seating for around 800, a second performance space, a new bar and cafe area, a dance studio and space for community groups and organisations.

For more information about the venue and to buy tickets for the upcoming shows, click here.