Crewe's Lyceum Square has been transformed into a new events and performance space, known as Ly2 - with this weekend seeing its official grand opening event. 

Ly2 has seen the centre of Lyceum Square becoming a mixed-use space to host events, festivals, performances, and activities throughout the year.

On Saturday (August 19), all the stops are being pulled out to allow people to celebrate in style with free performances and lots of entertainment on offer.

Ly2 has seen the centre of Lyceum Square becoming a mixed-use space to host events, festivals, performances, and activities throughout the year (Cheshire East Council).

Award-winning, touring company, Autin Dance Theatre, are the centrepiece for the weekend's big opening event, as they put on three performances of their outdoor physical theatre show 'Out of the Deep Blue.'

This will feature 'Eko,' a 13-foot-tall puppet operated by five puppeteers.

Autin Dance Theatre will lead a parade around the town centre bringing people along as they go, before stopping in at the Market Hall on their way to Ly2 for their performances. 

Kicking the event off from 11am, there will be a puppet workshop and street theatre performance.

This will be followed by one of the UK's finest steel bands, Pantasy, who are no strangers to Crewe having played at the Market Hall previously.

As well as a new raised events stage with an integrated digital screen, Ly2 includes colourful and multi-functional street furniture (Cheshire East Council).

Vice chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, Cllr Nick Mannion, said: "Saturday's event is the culmination of a lot of people's extremely hard work.

"This dates back to the time when creating Ly2 was still in the planning stage. 

"The initial events over the summer have been very well attended and I'm sure Saturday's will be as well, as the local community come together to celebrate this brilliant arts space.

"As I said earlier in the year, our focus remains on all the events that we have planned into September but our commitment to the success of Ly2 will extend well beyond that."

Ly2 was delivered by Cheshire East Council and overseen by Crewe Town Board with Crewe Town Council and Lyceum Theatre also key partners.

Vice chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, Cllr Nick Mannion (Cheshire East Council).

Outgoing chair of Crewe Town Board, Doug Kinsman, added: "Being part of the team which has driven the creation of this tremendous new arts space makes me feel very proud.

"We are already blessed with a wonderful theatre and the market hall is another key part of our cultural offer. 

"This is another step up for our arts scene in Crewe – a truly transformative project for Crewe's town centre."

As well as a new raised events stage with an integrated digital screen, Ly2 includes colourful and multi-functional street furniture and improvements to key gateways into the square.

Outgoing chair of Crewe Town Board, Doug Kinsman, is delighted with the completion of Ly2 (Crewe Town Board).

Artists have taken inspiration from Crewe's railway heritage to create the stage and shed designs, as well as a huge eagle mural on 'Crewe Central' operated by the Crewe Market Hall team.

Full listings and information on all the events taking place throughout the summer, can be found HERE.

READ MORE: Crewe and Nantwich MP hospitalised following serious sporting incident.

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