Hot spot

One of Didcot's rather dubious claims to fame is its inclusion in Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places to Live in the UK. But it looks as though authors Sam Jordison and Dan Kieran will soon have to eat their words, because Didcot is set to become a cultural hotspot, thanks to the South Oxfordshire District Council funding of the Cornerstone Arts Centre, which has its official opening next week.

An action-packed programme for autumn includes a wide variety of entertainment, including some of the country's leading comedy and music acts, as well as exhibitions, workshops and classes for adults and children. In addition, there is a café, bar and restaurant, accessible from the foyer and the town square.

Director Emma Dolman hopes that Cornerstone will raise Didcot's profile countrywide and establish a reputation for cultural excellence.

"The mission is to make Cornerstone a focal point for the district and to grow its name regionally and nationally, so that it becomes known as a venue for really good quality and high variety of arts and entertainment," she told me. "We want to make Cornerstone an exciting and accessible place that people want to come into, and for everyone to have a good time and want to come back."

We were sitting in a café just yards from the Orchard Centre development, where the new arts centre is situated. Behind the white boarding there was much frantic activity as builders and technicians worked furiously to ensure its completion before the opening on August 29.

"It's all going according to plan," Emma said. "There's a lot to do in this last period because so much of it you can't do any earlier. It's a very exciting time, and we're just keen to get the doors open and get people in."

The opening night features the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, who have built up a following on the festival circuit and recently appeared on Jools Holland's Hootenanny.

"They're really excellent. It's a very varied musical night, because they play everything from Miss Dynamite to Nirvana to classical, and there's lots of banter with the audience. So they're almost comedians as well as musicians. It should be a fun evening. And then we go straight into our Welcome Weekend, which is all free, and that's just opening up the venue over the Saturday and Sunday to showcase the rooms and say to people, please come in and see what we do."

The autumn programme really does, to coin a phrase, have something for everyone. For classical music lovers, there is Opera della Luna's Versace-inspired production of The Mikado, a traditional Nutcracker from Ballet Russe, and a recital by Spanish guitarist Juan Martin. Comedy fans will be delighted to see Rich Hall, Ed Byrne and Mark Steel - all regulars on TV shows such as Mock the Week, Have I Got News for You and QI - in the line-up, while music fans are catered for with Ralph McTell, Hazel O'Connor and Cara Dillon.

In addition, there is plenty of theatre, children's shows and family entertainment, including Sing-a-long-a-Sound of Music.

Much of the programme planning was in response to a poll of local residents, which put music firmly at the top of the 'wanted' list with 84 per cent, followed closely by theatrical performances (79 per cent), comedy acts (65 per cent) and family activities (56 per cent).

"Part of our programming is picking up on national tours," explained Emma. "So I hope we'll become a place where people know they can access good touring shows. At the same time, we're very keen for Cornerstone to be a place where local, non-professional talents can come and develop their work."

Part of Cornerstone's mission is to feature regular touring exhibitions, which will include local talent, as well as helping people across the region access the arts through an outreach and arts development programme. Emma is also keen to involve young people.

"My colleague is doing work with young people in Didcot via the youth centre, and they will produce some art work, which will be one of our exhibitions in the opening season. We hope this will help young people think this place is for me as well.'"

In the meantime, Emma is eagerly anticipating the launch. "I'm really excited, and I'm sure it will be a good night. I think having an arts venue in a place makes it a really attractive place to live. I think it's going to make the place very vibrant."

Highlights of the opening season August 29: Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain August 30-31: Welcome Weekend September 11: Rich Hall October 2: Cara Dillon October 10: Mark Steel October 17: Sing-a-long-a-Sound of Music October 31: Hazel O'Connor November 1: Ed Byrne November 9: The Mikado (Opera della Luna) November 14: Ralph McTell December 21: The Nutcracker (Ballet Russe) For full details, visit www.cornerstone-arts.org. To book tickets, call 01491 823823.