Town councillors have this week approved £170,000 of upgrades to Burnham-On-Sea’s Princess Theatre over the coming year.
At a meeting of The Princess Theatre Management Committee, councillors agreed the order of work to be undertaken during a major programme of improvements.
The work is being funded with £163,000 from the Hinkley Point C mitigation fund and £7,000 from the Friends of The Princess.
Cllr Louise Parkin, who chairs the council’s Princess Theatre Management Committee, said that the main focus will initially be upgrades to the auditorium and the Pizey meeting room.
“We are hoping to get access to other funds to work in other areas of the building,” she told this week’s meeting.
Improvements to Burnham’s Princess Theatre
- Refurbishment of auditorium seats plus handrails and lights
- Full redecoration and ceiling updates in auditorium
- Projector, screen and technical equipment in auditorium
- The proscenium arch in auditorium
- Windows and blinds in auditorium
- Stage will be updated in accordance with BSA fire regulations
- Redecoration plus new ceiling and carpet in Pizey Room
- Addition of meeting room materials such as screen in Pizey Room
- Ability to showcase visual arts on the walls in Pizey Room
- Appropriate fire escape doors in Pizey Room
- External signage and fire exit signage
Toilets refurbishment is to be delayed as councillors felt they are not a priority.
And the theatre’s Business Development Officer, Beccy Armory, said: “It is important that we update our facilities to grasp a more consistent income and our toilets by comparison to other venues are by no means shabby and do not earn money. There are already a number of other routes I am seeking to be able to take in the refurbishment of the toilets.”
Councillors also heard from Beccy that the theatre’s fire alarm system is overdue for servicing, which is being addressed, along with work on the boiler system.
She added that an exciting new programme of performances at the theatre is being planned for next year, but this is dependent on the improvement works being completed to schedule.
“We are looking at a more diverse programme than before with comedy and well-known performers,” she said. She also added that the number of volunteers is growing, putting the theatre in a good position for 2020.
