The people of Bury St

Edmunds have certainly taken the apex to their hearts, with over ten thousand

tickets sold for the new venue’s Autumn Season. Spring is also shaping up to be

busy, with twenty-five events already on sale and more to be confirmed in the

next few weeks.

Tony Doherty, venue

director told us: “The idea of a ‘Sound

Check Season’ was to test, trial and tweak all the operational aspects of the

building, ironing out any problems in the first three months of opening. We’re

delighted that local people have voted with their feet and already enjoyed

several sell out shows in this beautiful venue”

The apex’s first event was

BurySOUND on Friday October 8th, followed by a well attended Open

Weekend, which elicited such comments as ‘Stunning’,

‘Spectacular!’ and ‘This venue is

just what this town needed!’

Among the opening season’s

twenty programmed events, the venue attracted performances from such luminaries

as Steve Harley and Julian Lloyd Webber, whose orchestra director enthused: “The Apex is 100 percent excellent

acoustically… absolutely it is one of the best halls in which we have played

anywhere in Europe.” Other sold out concerts included Kate Rusby, Ludovico Einaudi,

City of London Sinfonia

and The Gondoliers. Fat Cat Comedy Club attendees have obviously appreciated

the move from the Corn Exchange, as all their shows have also sold out to date.

The apex is also gaining a great reputation as the

ideal place for businesses and community groups to hold their events. The flexibility of the

auditorium, with its moveable floor and seating, means the space can be tailor-made to suit each occasion. Autumn saw one of the UK’s biggest weekend chess tournaments,

the Voice Squad Ball and the L'Oreal Professionnel Catwalk Showcase.

The apex intends to build

on the success of last season by delivering an even  greater diversity of music and other entertainment

events, demonstrated in the range of programming, which includes classical,

rock, pop, jazz, folk and world music, alongside comedy and dance. The café bar

will be open daily in the New Year, situated in the beautiful atrium, the

stylish space will also become home to a series of free concerts.

Events to look out for next

year include: Elkie

Brooks, James Taylor

Quartet, The Blues Band, Funeral for a Friend and the Creole Choir of Cuba.

Classical fans will be

delighted by the English premiere of a Vivaldi flute concerto by La Serenissima,

while dance lovers will enjoy Strictly Come Bury St Edmunds. The apex will

continue to work with Milkmaid Folk Club to bring big names from the world of

folk, including Jon Boden, Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson.

The apex website, www.theapex.co.uk,

has details of

all forthcoming events and their booking details, or ring the apex box office on 01284 758000 for more

information. The

apex recommends that you join their Online Community in order

to be one of the first to hear about forthcoming events, you’ll also receive priority

on sales, special promotions and competitions – see the website for details.