First brick laid at £1.45 million arts venue near Oswestry

The Holroyd Community Theatre came a step closer this week as the first of the 42,000 bricks earmarked to build it was laid.

Set in the grounds of Moreton Hall School, the £1.45 million arts venue will provide a performance space for artists from across the region.

With the steels now in place, the laying of the first brick marks the start of the next phase and for local builders Jones Brothers, the benefactors and fundraisers, it is a significant moment in the theatre’s progress

The long held dream of Moreton Hall retiring principal, Jonathan Forster, the theatre began to become a reality when former Moreton parents and local philanthropists, Bill and Julie Holroyd became the theatre’s first patrons, donating £500,000 to raise the curtain on the project.

So it was fitting that their daughter, Laura Holden, laid the first brick.

Laura said: “It was an absolute privilege to lay the first brick and see the incredible progress being made. My family and I cannot wait to see the community taking full advantage of this inspiring space.”

Chair of the Holroyd Community Theatre Company, Simon Baynes, added: “This is an exciting moment in the story of our community theatre. With the first brick in place, our community theatre really is taking shape.”