REVEALED: Here is what’s taking over and transforming second half of former Wilkos unit in Weston Favell Shopping Centre
Here is what is taking over and transforming the second half of the former Wilkos unit in the upper mall of Weston Favell Shopping Centre, which has been empty since the closure in October 2023.
Silhouette Youth Theatre has revealed to the Chronicle & Echo that they are moving in with the aim of building a 250-seater theatre and community space within the next two years.
Everything has now been moved across from their old unit, which was formerly EE, and they are hopeful about opening the front of the space to the public in January 2027. It has taken two years to plan this process and it is finally in motion.
Leigh Wolmarans is the chief executive and artistic director at Silhouette Youth Theatre, which aims to provide accessible and affordable opportunities for all.
Leigh has had quite the journey, having started as a headteacher in Northampton in 2004 at Castle Primary School before moving onto Lings Primary School and being a founding member of the Northampton Primary Academy Trust.
It was following this when he made the switch to performing arts and he believes the past eight years have shown how much of a difference the theatre group continues to make to the Northampton community.
Silhouette Youth Theatre started its journey in Weston Favell Shopping Centre in 2019, when it preceded Potz Ceramic Studio in that unit – while also running out of the former EE studio next to The Works.
The theatre company also works closely with Emmanuel Church, so at one stage they were essentially operating three studios to meet the demand of working with 400 young people a week and alongside 60 schools in Northampton.
It was around two-and-a-half years ago when centre manager Kevin Legg approached Silhouette Youth Theatre about the possibility of taking the second half of the former Wilkos unit, alongside Pinnacle Climbing Centre which opened in February 2025.
Leigh said: “It planted the seed for something quite special. We want to build a community space and 250-seater theatre for projects, to train young people to do lighting and sound, and for touring theatre to come and run from.
“Phase one of the programme is to open the front part up in a couple of months and then slowly open the back. This is an exciting new chapter in the charity. We’re excited about the potential and everyone wants this to work. There’s a real buzz about the potential in an area that needs it most.
“We spoke to as many funders as we could but it was hard. Funding for the arts is always going to be difficult, especially when we believe in accessible and affordable opportunities for all. Money should never be a reason not to come to Silhouette.
“We fund a lot of families and young people who need it most, and that’s the true impact of the work we do. We’re not there to make a profit, we want to help and support. At a time when places are closing down, we want to buck that trend, show what can be done and take a risk for the impact it could have. It will be transformative.”
Silhouette Youth Theatre has managed to secure seating from the Royal Shakespeare Company, as they were the chosen charity to receive them, and they are waiting in the wings ready to be used when the back part of the unit is worked on.
Leigh wanted to issue huge thanks to Kevin and his team at Weston Favell Shopping Centre, who he described as “exceptional” throughout their journey from the very start.