Minister for Social Transformation and Chairman of the National Housing Company, Rawdon Turner, says work on the National Performing Arts Centre remains on schedule and will be completed in time for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Turner recently hosted Chairman of the National CHOGM Task Force and Foreign Affairs Minister E. P. Chet Greene on a tour of the former Deluxe Cinema on High Street, which is currently undergoing a major transformation into a state-of-the-art National Performing Arts Centre.

The visit was requested by Greene, who wanted a firsthand assessment of the project’s progress and assurance that the September completion target remains achievable ahead of CHOGM in November.

Following the tour, Greene praised Turner and his team for what he described as an impressive transformation of the historic building.

“I am pretty impressed and no amount of kudos is enough for Minister Turner and his team for the work that they have done here,” Greene said. “I am quite pleased with how they have maximized the internal space for greater seating capacity. This represents creative thinking.”

Turner explained that major structural works are nearing completion, with the final stages of cement work expected to be finished by the end of June. The project will then move into its finishing phase, including the installation of seating, carpeting, soundproofing, and advanced audio-visual systems.

According to the minister, the completed facility will accommodate just under 900 patrons and feature a two-tier balcony, making it one of the largest and most sophisticated performance venues in the region.

Turner highlighted several unique design elements aimed at creating a world-class theatrical experience. Among them is a specially engineered double-roof system designed to improve acoustics and eliminate disturbances caused by rainfall.

“We have a layer of galvanise and then on top of that is insulation, purlin and then another layer of galvanise,” Turner explained. “What that does is provide very good insulation in terms of sound-proofing. Just imagine that you are in a theatre and it starts to rain; you don’t want the noise of the rain on the roof to be disturbing the performance taking place inside.”

He added that acoustic wall panels and specialised carpeting will further enhance sound quality within the venue.

“This is going to be the most elaborate purpose-built facility of its kind, certainly in the Eastern Caribbean,” Turner declared.

Beyond CHOGM, Turner said the facility is expected to become a major cultural and entertainment hub, providing a permanent home for local performers and creating new opportunities to integrate the creative arts into Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism product.