AFTER 14 months of extensive refurbishment, St Ives Theatre is set to reopen its doors on Monday, April 7 following a £1.6-million transformation.
The theatre, which is home to the award-winning youth theatre company Kidz R Us, will celebrate its grand reopening with a magical production of The Wizard of Oz through to April 17.
The renovation marks a new chapter in the theatre’s long-standing tradition of bringing performing arts to the local community and visitors alike.
Funded by a grant from the £19.9m St Ives Town Deal Fund, the regeneration project has transformed the building, originally a Wesley Chapel, ensuring both its structural longevity and financial sustainability.
Significant upgrades include:
- A refurbished main auditorium, enhancing the audience experience.
- New office spaces and modernised facilities, including new toilets.
- An extension to the west elevation, creating an exciting new café space that will serve the public during the day and transform into a café-bar for evening performances.
- Upgraded ventilation, heating, and insulation systems, making the theatre more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
- Restoration of deteriorating windows, preserving the building’s heritage while improving its thermal properties.
- New roof structure, improving the building’s fabric.
Angela Skitt, trustee and executive producer at St Ives Theatre, said: “This regeneration is about much more than bricks and mortar. With the support of Town Deal funding, we can further broaden the appeal of St Ives Theatre, ensuring it continues to inspire and nurture young people, entertain audiences, and provide a vibrant cultural hub for the town.”
The St Ives Theatre has played a pivotal role in the local arts scene for 28 years. In that time the charity-owned and operated venue has staged over 1,500 performances to more than 400,000 audience members.
The transformation will allow for an expanded offering, including daytime musical theatre workshops for visitors, outreach programmes for schools, and full-time employment opportunities.
The investment hopes to position St Ives Theatre as a leading mid-sized performing arts venue in west Cornwall, welcoming not only KRU performances but also touring theatre groups and visiting performers. The addition of the café and extended facilities will also help secure the theatre’s financial future.
Angela added: “Our performers are thrilled to be returning to the stage, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences back as we embark on this exciting new era for St Ives Theatre.
“The Wizard of Oz production has been looking just amazing in rehearsals and will run through the Easter holidays, and we are already working on Footloose The Musical for May half term.”
For more information, ticket bookings, and details about upcoming productions and venue hire, visit: kidzrus.net