A VITAL community theatre grant has given Colwyn Bay a massive boost.
The regional funding and new economic development in the town has given hope to community officials, who say the town has recovered well after the recession.
This week it was announced the 125-year-old Theatr Colwyn, in Abergele Road has secured £750, 000 from the North Wales Strategic Regeneration Area Programme and local authority match funding.
The funding boost means a project to completely redevelop the theatre’s front of house will start shortly.
Phil Batty, manager of Theatr Colwyn, said: “Theatr Colwyn has been at the heart of Colwyn Bay since it first opened as a venue in 1888 and our long-term aim is continue redevelopment work until we are at the stage when we can accommodate larger productions and offer more to our loyal audience.”
Community fundraising efforts have helped to secure the money. Locals ploughed money into the project on the understanding that the theatre would continue to source from any available sources.
The theatre launched a campaign to raise a shortfall of £100,000 in April of this year and have since raised £6,000.
A spokeswoman for the theatre said: “Our aim is to upgrade all the facilities. The current scheme will see the front-of-house facilities, that are so important to our customers, improved and upgraded. We will continue to fund raise to allow us to improve the backstage facilities. Some of the money raised will be used for the initial front-of-house scheme, any money remaining will be used to assist with the backstage improvements.”
The front of house redevelopment will see the upstairs bar relocated to the foyer, the creation of new box office, office space, a community room and disabled access to all floors.
Sarah Ecob, general manager, said: “Fundraising continues to allow us to achieve the full scope of the project that will, eventually, include the rear of house facilities. We would like to thank everyone who has donated so generously to date.”
Monty Python star Terry Jones and patron of the theatre said he was “so happy” to hear of the funding award. He visited the venue in April to launch a fundraising appeal.
Terry, who was born in Colwyn Bay, said: “Thank you to the Welsh Assembly Government for recognising the importance to my home town of Theatr Colwyn.
“This is a great step forward for the community. I hope the restored theatre will be bringing excitement and fun to the town for years to come.”