INTERACTIVE DISPLAY PUTS FORMER ODEON CINEMA BACK AT CENTRE STAGE

Chester’s former Odeon Cinema is basking in the limelight once more thanks to an interactive display celebrating its leading role in the city’s cultural revival.

Cheshire West and Chester Council last month announced that the listed Art Deco building is to be the site of the city’s £43m flagship theatre.

The Northgate Street building has now been decorated with bold panels in a theatrical style announcing the exciting news.

Bright stars bearing footprints have been added to the pavement to encourage passers-by to interact with giant mirrored panels – enabling them to picture themselves as a star of the future.

Councillor Stuart Parker, Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, said: “Our aim was to produce an eye-catching display that gives a strong positive message about the Council’s exciting plans for this landmark building.

“The interactive feature is a fun way of communicating that this will, first and foremost, be a theatre for our residents, with links with every section of our communities.”

Local companies were appointed to deliver both the graphic panels and the floor artwork.

Simply Signs of Winsford produced the large-scale anti-graffiti panels, while Chester-based Green Street Media created the stars using a new biodegradable temporary paint.
Conrad Thornton of Green Street Media said: “We are delighted to be working with Cheshire West and Chester Council on such a high profile project.

“We have been based in Chester since 2010 and it is great to deliver our eco-friendly advertising services for our local Council for local people to enjoy.

“The new theatre is a major talking point of the city and our painted adverts will really help bring the area to life, with many passers-by already jumping on the painted stars and taking pictures.

“The Council are very keen to share the development of this new theatre with local people and our adverts are an ideal way to communicate with the local population.”