Groups encouraged to use Whitchurch theatre after £25,000 redecoration project

Whitchurch Town Council has said its theatre facility is not used enough, despite ongoing attempts to bring in more acts and groups.

Michelle Wilson, town clerk said: "It has something that has been mentioned that we are not using enough.

"Although we have tried very hard and we are using it for community events, Christmas fairs and plays.

"We want to try and get a book or toy fair in there as well.

"And we really want to use it for people in the town and use it to help the community."

The theatre, which is based at the Civic Centre in High Street, recently underwent a re-decoration.

Mrs Wilson said: "We have redecorated the hall, now have curtains and the dressing rooms have been redecorated with new floors.

"We have new chairs as well and a capacity of about 400 people as well as a box office now where we can sell tickets from the hub, which we didn't have before.

"There is also sound and lighting but some people bring their own because they prefer to use their own equipment."

Mrs Wilson said that the theatre redecoration project cost about £25,000 of town council funds and was a separate project to the Civic Centre revamp.

But with so much money invested in the theatre facility, Mrs Wilson said it was a shame to see it not used to its full potential.

She said: "We want anything that will attract people to come and use the theatre to use it.

"Wer have had amatuer dramatics groups and some really good names come and use it.

"But a lot of the good names have a following and will attract people anywhere. We don't have that facility so we need to try and get more people using it.

"It is an extremely reasonable charge, and o book it is just forms to fill out and a small deposit that is returnable if it is cancelled within a certain time period."

The plea comes after the council was forced to cancel a show featuring an Elvis tribute act after selling just 14 of the 400 tickets available, leaving the town council £300 out of pocket

Mrs Wilson said: "I'm not saying we will lose it but if people don't use this fantastic facility we have got we have got to think what we will use it for instead."

For more information about the theatre, or to book visit whitchurchcouncil.uk or call (01948) 665761