Morecambe’s Winter Gardens remains on the national Theatres at Risk Register.
The Theatres Trust, the charity that campaigns to protect the UK’s theatres, highlights theatres across the UK under threat of closure, redevelopment or severe decay, but which all have the potential to be revived for their local communities with the right support.
The venue has been listed as ‘at risk’ since the register began in 2006.
The Winter Gardens is currently undergoing a period of restoration thanks to the ongoing work of the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust, the current owners of the building.
More than £5 million has been raised since 2020, including a grant of £767,222 by Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund last August, to pay for repairs to the structure and staircases as part of plans to increase the capacity of the Grade II* listed building.
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).
Along with smaller grants and matching funds, this financial support will enable the latest work to be carried out.
Read more: INTERVIEW: Morecambe Winter Gardens set for major work to reopen Circle for first time since 1977
Chair of the trust, Professor Vanessa Toulmin (pictured below), said: “The Morecambe Winter Gardens has been on the Theatres at Risk since 2006 and we have been working with the Theatres Trust to proactively improve and shape the future of our historic venue.
"Over the last 12 months there has been over a £1m investment into the theatre's infrastructure and the structural issues that came to the fore last year have been remedied and repaired due to the work of Historic England.
"Improvements this last 12 months have included a complete rewiring of the theatre, the new extension and toilet block currently being built and scheduled to be complete by December and of course major interventions in the Circle.
"The theatre will be operating at an increased capacity of 1,200 seated, 1,600 mixture of seating/standing and accessible lifts and access to the Circle.
"The Preservation Trust and our band of volunteers have worked tirelessly to get to this stage and we could not have done this without the support of the Theatres Trust and all our funders small and large.
"The theatre will remain on the list as there is much more work to do but we are confident that we are on the right path to restore a venue that is at the heart of Morecambe's ambitions and future.”
To see the ongoing restoration, you can book on a tour at the theatre at https://morecambewintergardens.com/tours/
First launched in 2006, the Theatres at Risk Register shines a spotlight on theatres under threat and helps galvanise support for securing their future. Over two decades, this campaign has played a vital role in raising awareness, building partnerships, and supporting the revival of important cultural assets in communities across the country.
In the intervening two decades, more than 80 theatres have been restored and revived, or suitable replacements have been built.
This year, two more theatres have been added to the Register, Preston Guild Hall and The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness.
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