The Anvil

The Anvil is a concert hall and performing arts centre in the town of Basingstoke in Hampshire, UK. The building's name reflects its unusual shape, particularly when seen from the western approach, as it resembles the horn end of a traditional blacksmith's anvil. It has also been likened to the bow of a ship. The Anvil was built to tackle what was then seen as a 'cultural desert' in the Basingstoke area, on a site originally set aside for the third phase of Basingstoke's shopping centre. The aim of the project was to raise the profile of the Borough and to establish it as a major regional centre with a range of first-class facilities. It opened in 1994. The hall plays host to a variety of touring productions, stand-up comedians, live bands, opera, and most famously classical music. The hall is designed to be multi-purpose, and has multiple stage formats that fit shows according to their needs, plus a removable proscenium to cater for more theatrical performances that require more than a standard 'black box' stage, notably opera and pantomime. The auditorium has adjustable seating and considered some of the finest acoustics of any concert hall in Europe. The acoustic design was by Richard Cowell of Arup Acoustics. There is a small second auditorium, The Forge, which primarily plays host to acoustic and folk acts.