Published: 11/03/2010 09:00 -
Updated: 10/03/2010 16:52
THE Victoria Hall Theatre in Old Harlow has been spared an untimely curtain call after the group battling to save the building from closure received an unexpected funding boost.
Harlow Performing Arts Group is now in a position to meet Essex County Cou-ncil’s asking price of £100,000 for the Bury Road building after receiving £40,000 from the authority’s own Community Initiatives Fund.
Harlow Performing Arts Group is now in a position to meet Essex County Cou-ncil’s asking price of £100,000 for the Bury Road building after receiving £40,000 from the authority’s own Community Initiatives Fund.
The grant has been split into two, with £30,000 to go towards the price of the premises and the remaining £10,000 paying for a structural survey and legal fees.
The remainder of the asking price will be met using money raised by a series of events organised by the venue’s official fundraisers, The Friends of Johnny Wong. The charitable group was set up in 2007 in memory of the talented amateur actor and director who was killed in a car crash.
Victoria Hall Theatre is used regularly by Harlow Theatre Company, Class Act Theatre School and several other local amateur dramatic groups.
Christopher Jolly, chairman of the Harlow Performing Arts Group, told the Star: “Buying the Victoria Hall Theatre has been a long-cherished plan.
“We are most grateful for the support and generous help given which will secure its future as an outstanding community theatre.”
The group has been fighting to secure the long-term future of the venue ever since the county council deemed the building surplus to requirements in 2002.
ECC was initially seeking £155,000 for the freehold and granted a two-year extension to the lease in February last year to allow the group more time to raise the necessary funds.
But following negotiations last month involving Mr Jolly, county councillor John Jowers and Harlow Conservative Parlia-mentary candidate Rob Halfon, a deal was finally struck for the county council to part-fund the purchase of the building at a reduced price.
Mr Jowers said: “The money that Essex County Council has given to enable the purchase of the theatre means it will remain open for many years and can be enjoyed by Harlow residents for generations to come.”
Mr Halfon added: “The theatre is a magical place. It is run by a committee that is among one of the most passionate that I have ever seen.
“It is wonderful that this theatre will soon own its premises. Our community will benefit by having an even stronger and better theatre in Old Harlow in a most magnificent hall.”
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