Number 8

Number 8 stands in Pershore’s High Street in a converted 18th-century building. It houses a 250-seat auditorium for music, theatre and cinema, a gallery, a café and a bar. There are also conference rooms and a small dance studio for rehearsals. The centre opened in 2004 after the old structure was carefully restored. It replaced an earlier arts venue that had operated nearby for many years. Local groups keep the programme lively, especially PODS, the Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society. Their productions range from classic plays to modern musicals. In recent years PODYS, the youth wing of the society, has begun staging shows of its own. Both companies perform regularly on the main stage. Visitors find a welcoming café and bar on the ground floor. The gallery upstairs shows changing exhibitions by regional artists. The auditorium hosts film nights, concerts and plays throughout the year. The rehearsal space downstairs is used by visiting companies as well as local performers. The building itself, with its high ceilings and tall windows, adds to the sense of occasion.