'At risk' theatre gets £5k grant for plaster works

The UK's second oldest working theatre is to receive a £5,000 grant to fund initial works to repair delicate ceiling plasterwork.

The Grade II* listed Theatre Royal in Margate has been awarded £5,325 by the Theatres Trust to pay for surveys to ornate plasterwork on the roof of the auditorium.

Thanet District Council, which owns the theatre, says £5m has been allocated to refurbish the building which is on the Theatres at Risk register.

The theatre is expected to open by the end of 2027, the council says.

Bob Porter, the council's director of place, said: "The Theatre Royal is a building with great heritage significance. The council welcomes this grant from Theatres Trust, which means that we can carry out a specialist survey on the incredible plasterwork.

"It will give us a better understanding of what needs to be done to preserve this unique feature as part of the wider refurbishment project."

The Theatre Royal, first built in 1787, closed in 2022.

The building is one of several theatres in the South East on the at risk register including Brighton's Hippodrome, Clair Hall in Haywards Heath, West Sussex and The Harlequin Theatre in Redhill, Surrey.

The Theatre Royal is one of 10 theatres nationally to receive the Theatres Trust funding.

Joshua McTaggart, chief executive of Theatres Trust says: "All the theatres on our Theatres at Risk Register are special buildings that have real potential to bring joy and opportunities to their communities.

"Theatres Trust is delighted to support Theatre Royal Margate with this project that will help it move a step closer to its ultimate goal."

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.