Ventnor Exchange

Ventnor Exchange will launch the new Ventnor Exchange Arena, a nomadic venue reimagining what a theatre or arts centre can be for the Isle of Wight. Through multi-week residencies in Sandown and Newport, the Arena will act as a travelling town hall.

Each residency will form the heart of a pop-up festival village, with a programme co-curated with local people. There will be a major participatory opening and closing ceremony: a large-scale theatrical retelling of the Island’s millions of years of history through puppetry, music, dance and circus, involving semi-professionals and community groups. Between these bookend events, the Arena will present a vibrant mix of circus, theatre and music, alongside a dedicated Brave Island Festival run entirely by young people.