Crucible boss describes 'amazing' transformation as work continues to get ready for snooker championship
Bosses at the Crucible have described the work involved in transforming the Sheffield theatre into the world’s most famous snooker venue.
Work could be seen to be continuing at the famous theatre, home of the world snooker championships since 1977, today.
Deliveries were being taken into the building, and some of the television lorries which had been there Wednesday still remained.
A mobile building had been added inside the steel fence which has been placed around the theatre, and signs warning of road closures have been put in place.
Sheffield Theatres chief executive, Tom Bird said: “We are about to go into an amazing phase of transformation when the Sheffield Theatres’ teams work incredibly hard for weeks and weeks in order to turn what is a major producing theatre into an international sports venue.
“This includes changes across many of our teams’ usual work, but also practically the huge numbers of cables and wires, TV crews and all manner of equipment that come into the theatre every spring.
He described the Crucible as a completely unique building.
He said: “It’s a fantastic theatre that Sheffield is very proud of and what makes it a perfect theatre also makes it a perfect snooker venue. It’s an intimate, intense space that really puts the pressure on anyone who is on that stage and it gives the most fantastic audience experience. There is nowhere like it in the world.”
This year will see Zhao Xintong return to the Crucible Theatre to defend the crown he won last year, while Ronnie O’Sullivan will be hoping record-breaking eighth world title.
The tournament, which runs from April 18 until May 4, has been held in Sheffield since 1977.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the capacity of the Crucible would be expanded so that the tournament can continue to be staged there in the future.