Komedia, a privately owned and privately financed arts and entertainment organisation, has been high-lighted in a report by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as a role model for town centres to become safer and more enjoyable places for everyone at night. The Brighton venue, which earlier this year won the best cultural destination award in the Brighton & Hove business awards, is cited as a good example of how diversity can be created in the evening economy.
Described as offering lighter shows, comedy, cabaret and kids clubs as well as heavyweight theatre, Komedia is commended for its evening sessions, Komedia night out, with performances based around a combination of meal-show-drink, and the venue operating until 1am. The audience is relatively affluent, but ranges in age from 8 to 80, and the case study highlights how a mixed programme of live events going on late into the night can draw people of all ages into a town centre. The study was carried out by the Civic Trust as part of a three-year research programme into the night-time economy. Its report concludes that there is a widespread belief that diversity of users/uses will make town centres more liveable during the evening and that should be our goal.
Published: 19-12-2005