The first of Colne’s three theatres is finished!

Renovation work at The Little Theatre is complete and the unveiling of the new-look theatre was marked with a version of Alan Bennett’s ‘Talking Heads’ taking to the stage.

This is the first of the three theatres in Colne’s newly formed Heritage Quarter to be completed with money from Round One of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Work started last September and over the past eight months, The Little Theatre has been transformed.

Levelling Up funds of £262,500 have enabled Colne Dramatic Society to future-proof the theatre with the creation of a single storey extension, incorporating wheelchair access and facilities, along with a modern foyer, additional toilets, a green room and kitchen/bar.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Leader of Pendle Borough Council and Executive Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration, said: “It’s great that the refurbishment work on The Little Theatre is complete – and what a transformation!

“It looks amazing and I’m sure audiences will agree.”

Almost £3.5m has been awarded to Colne’s three theatres – The Muni Theatre, Pendle Hippodrome and The Little Theatre – for refurbishment and restoration work to be carried out to bring them back to their former glory and provide entertainment venues for residents and visitors for years to come.

Pendle Hippodrome received £1,661,100, to enable the refurbishment and alterations to the ground floor and first floor of the former historic Derby Arms public house, with the installation of passenger lifts and the redevelopment of the existing theatre’s foyer, box office and toilet areas.

The first and second floors are complete and the carpet on the ground floor has been fitted. The existing bar in the theatre needs to be removed and a disabled toilet needs to be built in the old box office. 

This work cannot be done until the new facilities are in place, as the theatre has remained operational throughout the project.

Pendle Hippodrome is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month and the first opportunity for audiences to see the finished result will be at The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

This will be followed by the theatre company's production of ‘Sunset Boulevard’ in September.

The Muni Theatre was allocated £1,563,300 for a major refurbishment, including new roofing and windows, along with new heating and lighting to improve energy efficiency.

Its restoration is continuing at pace and the meticulous work on the ceiling is now complete. This procedure involved removing at least 30 layers of paint and wallpaper revealing the beautiful original decor underneath.

New energy-efficient boilers have been fitted, old windows have been replaced with energy-efficient glass and wooden frames and important structural work on the balcony has been completed.

The exterior of the building has been extensively cleaned from top to bottom and the original external lights have been fixed and now illuminate the impressive roof line.

Work on The Muni is continuing.

Councillor Mohammad Hanif, Executive Portfolio holder for Leisure Services, said: “The Levelling Up funding has provided a lifeline for the long-term sustainability of these three individual and unique theatres in the heart of Colne.

“Each will provide the local community and visitors with an enhanced programme of events and activities.”