ICONIC VICTORIA THEATRE GETS £5K BOOST TOWARDS RESTORATION

The historic Victoria Theatre in Salford has been boosted by a £5,000 to help spearhead its restoration.

Privately-owned theatre and derelict, the theatre is on the national ‘Theatres at Risk’ register.

The cash  will enable owners to undertake a ‘governance review’, as part of the Theatres Trust’s Reslient Theatres: Resiliednt Communities programme.

The theatre on Great Clowes Street in Lower Broughton, built in 1900, was designed by renowned architect Bertie Crewe and is one of seven theatres to receive funding through the first round of the Theatres Trust’s latest round of funding. The organisation is the national advisory body for theatres.

Its aim is to provide expert support to theatres and groups who currently, or seek to, run them by matching them with industry leaders and advisors in order to equip them with the skills, knowledge and means to execute their plans. 

The plan for The Victoria is to open it up in phases, incorporating a multi-purpose community space. 

Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan said:

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“We believe every theatre on our Theatres at Risk list has the potential to be returned for use by their communities, providing performance venues of types currently lacking in their local areas and bringing much-needed footfall to town centres.

Theatres Trust is delighted to support The Victoria with this project that will help it move a step closer to its ultimate goal.”

 

Chair of the Salford Victoria Theatre Trust , Samantha Kelly, said:

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“We’re delighted to have received this funding in the latest round. 

“The Theatres Trust has been a tremendous help throughout our campaign with each of the successive owners of the building and we are excited to announce that we are actively engaged in negotiations with the current owner, exploring options for a lease that will enable us to open the building up to the community who has missed it for so long, many of them fondly sharing memories and stories of their own experiences of the theatre’s life as an entertainment venue and bingo hall, as well as those of their relatives. This funding has come at a very good time for the development of the group and we’re currently looking to attract members of the community to volunteer with us in a variety of ways.”

 

The purpose of the scheme is to highlight and support theatres across the country that are at risk of closure or demolition, and which have historical, architectural and community merit.