Huge progress has been made on multi-million pound plans to fully reopen the Morecambe Winter Gardens.
Beyond Radio has been given a tour of the historic theatre to see the work that has been taking place over the past year.
A phased project is ongoing, for the Grade II* listed building to operate full-time once again, for the first time since 1977.
Work is continuing on building an extension on the theatre to house 38 toilets and a lift.
Meanwhile a full electrical rewiring of the venue has taken place and a new fire alarm system installed.
Stained glass has been restored, painting and decorating is continuing with colour schemes faithful to the theatre's over 125-year history, a new back door has been fitted behind the stage, and new supports fitted to strengthen the stage itself.
The overall aim is to make the Winter Gardens one of the biggest live music venues in the North West.
"This time next year it will be completely operable as a 1200-1600 capacity," said Professor Vanessa Toulmin, chair of the trust.
LISTEN to Professor Vanessa Toulmin and trustee Michael Ellis talking about the ongoing work
Michael Ellis and Professor Vanessa Toulmin
Part of the ongoing project is to reopen the Circle overlooking the main auditorium.
The Circle is the middle of three floors at the theatre, and will be in use for the first time since the Winter Gardens closed almost 40 years ago, with seating for 400-450 people.
Professor Toulmin explained the work that has been taking place.
"The first phase is rewiring and putting the infrastructure back in to the building," she said.
"The whole building has been rewired. A new fire alarm system has been put in.
"Part of the building, the stage and sides of the building, were falling down. That has all been done.
"You can actually walk in the areas now.
"The changing rooms have been done, new windows fitted, there are new back doors behind the stage.
A refurbished dressing room at the Winter Gardens
"Now it's all been strengthened, with new structure holding up the stage, now we can start putting the different layers on, painting and decorating.
"The colour schemes are going back to the basics. Lots of different shades of blue, green, cream and red. We're taking the colours from the mosaic tiles and stained glass.
A stairwell at the Winter Gardens which has been painted
"The final stage will be, now we've got the structure in...everything's going to be recarpeted in the next three to four weeks.
"Even the carpet has to be checked by Historic England. I don't think people realise the amount of detail you have to do. This is a Grade II* listed building, There are so many protections on it.
"By the end of January, we'll put all the chairs back in (the Circle), that were sponsored by local people. We wanted to get them back in earlier, but you couldn't get up there.
"The staircases were falling down, they've all been redone on both sides. going all the way up to the Gods.
A staircase at the Winter Gardens
"A major improvement is widening all the fire doors so the capacity downstairs, in January, will be standing 1200.
"The next big piece will be the chandeliers."
Long-term, the aim - subject to further funding - is to reopen the top floor known as 'The Gods' as well.
"When we fully complete the work, our capacity will be 2000-2500," said Professor Toulmin.
"We're not putting seating back downstairs, that will be standing.
"Emergency lighting has been done, which is really important for access. We've got loads of accessibility areas. Downstairs (there) will be 18 dedicated wheelchair spaces. It will be very accessible.
New windows have been fitted at the theatre.
"Overall, the full amount spent on building on this phase, is just under £4m."
In 2025, Rosslee Construction, from Accrington, were appointed to lead the project.
Work taking place on the extension at the Winter Gardens, August 2026
Stained glass has been provided by Lancashire-based stained glass artist Sarah Walkley.
And a team of local volunteers have been carrying out jobs including joinery, painting, decorating and French polishing.
"We've got local people working on the building and they're very proud," said Professor Toulmin.
The theatre continues to open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, including this weekend when it will welcome events from Morecambe Maritime Festival on Saturday.
Other events later this year include the returning Morecambe Poetry Festival in September and a concert by renowned band Crash Test Dummies in October.
"I said in five years we'd be getting ready to open the building," said Professor Toulmin.
"We're (almost) there and we couldn't have done it without the people of Morecambe.
"A thriving Winter Gardens benefits Morecambe. Every time you come in here, you're benefitting yourself."
Morecambe Winter Gardens was opened as the ‘Victorian Pavilion Theatre’ in 1897.
Since 2006, the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust, a volunteer-run group, has owned the theatre.
Restoration work has been taking place on the building for many years, and the theatre continues to open during the spring and summer months at weekends, and for one-off events.
Work has stepped up since March 2023, when the trust received £2.8m from Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund (CDF).
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