Lifeline hope for Spotlight
Theatre as lockdown threatens expansion plans
Bridlington's Spotlight Theatre is hoping to raise £12,000
to extend its post-Covid offering.
An East Yorkshire community theatre is hoping to come through
the coronavirus pandemic a bigger and better facility for
the people it serves.
Spotlight Theatre, in West Street, Bridlington, which acts as
a community hub as well as a centre for performances, has been
closed because of Covid-19 and has already lost out on more
than £85,000 from cancelled shows.
But the not-for-profit theatre, owned and run by members and
volunteers, is using lockdown to pursue an expansion plan and
has launched a “Buy-a-Brick” campaign to raise the
£12,000 it needs.
Spotlight has the opportunity to acquire part of the neighbouring
garage premises, which would enable it to relocate its cramped
workshop provide much-needed rehearsal and storage space.
Catherine Terry, a local actress, singer and director, who
performs her own shows at Spotlight and teaches drama workshops
there, said: “As the theatre is currently closed, now
seems the sensible time to get building works under way, so
that when it reopens, it can come back bigger and better.
“It's a really exciting prospect, but obviously, in
the current times funds are low.”
The scheme calls for a wall to be built to divide the building,
plus ancillary work including an additional access to the
stage.
The estimated cost is £12,000, with bricks available
to buy at £10 each via Spotlight Theatre’s JustGiving
page.
West End and TV actress Catherine said: “The theatre
is a fantastic community hub. Not only is it a theatre for
performances but also for children's workshops, youth drama
groups, live-streaming from the West End, opera, dementia-friendly
film club, and more.
“Everyone is welcome, from those who want to be on stage
performing in the shows, to backstage workers, lighting and
sound technicians, wardrobe and props makers, to those who
work front-of-house, give out programmes, run the raffle and
serve behind the bar.
“The Spotlight is a family and so much is currently
lost to the community by that not being available.
“However, while we are not able to use the theatre,
we’re determined not to let the grass grow under our
feet.
“We’ve been given a super opportunity and we hope
to inspire people and raise some interest and support for
our campaign.”
Catherine said that, in normal times, if there was a show
on, rehearsals, classes and workshops would have to stop as
there was no space apart from the stage to work on.
“This extension will mean that lessons, workshops and
rehearsals will be able to continue, and importantly, it will
also make it a much more attractive proposition as a venue
for professional touring theatre companies to hire, which
would bring more revenue into the theatre.”
For every brick bought, the purchaser’s name will be
entered into a draw for a future Spotlight show of their choice,
a theatre tour and a meet-the-cast opportunity.
Catherine said: “The arts have suffered dreadfully –
like many people, I lost a full year of work overnight - but
I admire this little theatre so much as it refuses to be beaten.”
Find out more about Spotlight
Theatre on its website and Facebook page
Hull Daily Mail / Hull Live
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