Jools Holland opens state-of-the-art centre in Purfleet (From Thurrock Gazette)

Jools Holland opens state-of-the-art centre in Purfleet

9:40am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Matt Abbott

STUDENTS and delegates were treated to a performance by piano virtuoso Jools Holland as he visited south Essex to open a new £13.7million centre.

The former Squeeze pianist who now hosts his own BBC Two show featuring some of the biggest names in music performed a short piano piece after opening the Creative and Cultural Skills Backstage Cente.

The impressive cube shaped building, which has taken five years to build and sits next door to the Royal Opera House workshop in Purfleet will be a centre of training for young people.

It comprises a state-of-the-art rehearsal space, likely to attract some of the music and theatre industry’s biggest stars. Youngsters from across south Essex and the country will have the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade with the best in the business.

The project, which started in 2008, has been managed by Creative and Cultural Skills, the Government’s skills sector council.

After opening the centre, Jools told the Echo: “I know south Essex well and love it. It’s a brilliant and romantic part of the world. Of course Dracula is from here in Purfleet which I particularly like. I always tell people that as i’m driving over the bridge.

“This centre couldn’t be in a better place. It’s close to the M25, easy for London, Kent and lots of places. It’s important that, at last, something has been built with the purpose of training people properly to engage in the world of live music.”